It Wasn’t My Fault

Leaders take responsibility and act with integrity

The Rebuke of Adam and Eve by Domenichino, 1626 (public domain - National Gallery of Art)

“A gentleman accepts the responsibility of his actions and bears the burden of their consequences, even when he did not himself instigate them but only acquiesced to them, didn't say No even though he knew he should.”
— William Faulker, 1962

When something goes wrong, what’s your immediate response?

To deny it even happened? To blame someone else? To completely reject your responsibility?

Or do you step up and take the heat, knowing that you may catch an earful, or even get fired?

It’s not always easy to do the right thing. I get it.

But it’s the job of a leader to do what’s right, even when its personally difficult to do. That’s called integrity.

Three Stories About Accepting Responsibility

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