Dear Reader. Hopefully you’ll see the irony of this post appearing a few days late. All the pieces were in place for my Responsibility post to appear as originally scheduled last Thursday. Despite good intentions, it did not happen. I take responsibility. Drop-the-ball is as drop-the-ball does.
Tom Rath’s book Strengths Finder 2.0 revealed my top five strengths. My number five strength is responsibility. Wow! It’s a good thing – I’ve based my career on Gumption, or personal responsibility. It’s a relief to learn I’m practicing what I preach – LOL!
People with the responsibility theme, or strength, take psychological ownership for all that they commit to do – large or small. They feel emotionally bound to follow through to completion. When they can’t deliver, they try to make it up to the person to whom they’ve committed.
Responsibility people feel that apologies aren’t good enough. They believe that excuses and rationalizations are unacceptable. They can’t live with themselves until restitution has been made.
Ouch! Knowing this about myself makes me want to be careful for the commitments I make … and explains a lot about myself.
In reinventing myself these past few years, I’ve had my fair share of setbacks. I’ve had to accept that some of the things that I committed to do were not completed. I’ve had to learn to clean up my messes – make restitution. I had to learn to forgive myself. I frankly did not enjoy this period.
Reading about the responsibility theme in Strengths Finder 2.0 has been helpful. It’s helped put this recent life chapter in perspective.
The book states that a responsibility person’s conscientiousness can be a borderline obsession. This obsession does combine to create dependability and one’s reputation.
One danger for a responsibility person is in not knowing when to say, “No.” Others will approach and ask for help – after all, you are dependable … you will get the job done. Responsibility people need to be selective in saying, “Yes.” They must guard against taking on too much.
I’ve been learning this lesson the past few years. I’m learning to be selective.
I want to do a good job for the people to which I commit. It’s my reputation.
I want to practice what I preach. I have to live with myself.
I am personally responsible. I choose to live my life with Gumption.
Next Blog Title: Strengths Summary – Final Thoughts
Next Blog Date: February 14, 2013