As A Leader Take The Credit/Blame

This title could ruffle a few feathers but I ask you to hear me out before you rush to judgment. I am reading a book by Brian Klemmer on leadership titles Eating the Elephant One Bite at A Time. Each week there is a lesson for me to work on as I develop as a leader. To improve your leadership skills you need to internally take credit for what is happening in every facet of your life. I want to see how this applies in three different areas of our lives. By taking credit or blame for your marriage relationship, your business relationships, and your bank account you can improve your leadership skills.

The first area is the area of your marriage. All people at some time or another in their life wake up, turn over, and go “what have I gotten myself into”. If you have not then you just have not been married long enough. So here is an exercise from the book that I would recommend for any married person. Take an aspect of your marriage: gift giving, affection, financial status or any other from a long list. Write down what you do not like about that aspect of marriage. Then write down ten reasons why that aspect is not where you want it to be. Then take credit for it not being as successful as possible. Now write down ten positives to make that aspect be successful. I find in my own life I want to blame ten other people or circumstances for what is happening to me. This may make you feel better and get your friends to empathize with your, but it will not improve the situation. Now implement a plan to improve this aspect of your marriage. By taking the blame or the credit for the problem something can get done.

The second area we can look to is our business relationships. For instance, if there is a person you work closely with and there has been some friction over a decision. There are really only two ways to react to the problem. Place the blame or the credit on the business partner or take it yourself. The truth is you may be right and you can stick to your guns until the cows come home. This could make you feel better but will hurt your business in the long run. Or you could take the blame and see if there was some way an agreement could be reached. What happens when you take the blame is that the other person softens their position and concessions can be made. You have empowered your business partner by saying you were wrong and the middle ground can be found. This of course will not work on things that are essentials. What you might find is that you can keep the essential part and add something great by listening to another perspective on the situation. Again taking the blame or credit gets something done.

The third area is in your personal or business bank account. Sometimes, I wish the money would just show up or the money would come easy. The truth is, it usually takes a lot of hard work to make a lot of money. This time let’s take the credit for your home finances. One year ago you were dissatisfied with your financial position. You made some changes and now you have more than enough money to live comfortably. This can not happen until you take the blame. Then after things turn around you should also be allowed to take the credit. Many people think that saying it was luck or just great timing is displaying humility. The truth is they made the accomplishment and should be taking the credit. One should always remember that nothing was ever accomplished alone and that all the credit is not solely yours. Nobody accomplishes anything without Gods help. Also nobody changes or improves anything without making a conscience effort to make the change. Remember your finances are a product of your work. If you change your standing it is because you made the change.

We have now looked at three aspects of our lives and taken the credit or the blame for how they are functioning. We learned that even if the credit or the blame is not all ours, if we take it things can change. If we do not then we are left with exactly what we had before. If you want your marriage relationship, your business relationship, or your financial status to change take credit or blame for its current status. Then do something about it, if you won’t who will.