Responsible Action Tip Success Case
Desiree Purvis writes:
Your tip on how to stop laying blame has been really useful – thinking back I’m staggered at how much “it got out” prior to your tip!
Q: Can I give myself points for taking responsibility AFTER griping about something?
Example: While clearing my e-mails on returning to the office from Xmas I came across an e-mail communication about an upcoming event for our industry. I had expected another colleague to have communicated this internally as they are on the working committee, but forwarded it to my peer group anyway. I discovered that they weren’t aware of it, which is what had happened on a previous occasion. After grumbling to myself I read your tip and I realised that I couldn’t expect this person to take action I expected of them; I hadn’t communicated with them and I was making a vast assumption. However, I had all the information to hand. I made a decision to publish the event on our company’s event calendar myself and, when RSVPing, offered to publish it externally on discussion boards I am a member of, which was accepted. It only took a few minutes to do – less time than what I spent grumbling about it!
I wrote back. “Of course. Becoming aware and confronting yourself (owning up) anytime is worth points.”