This post is a detailed explanation of one of my principles. All posts in the series can be found here.
The wording of this principle felt too long to put as the title. Here it is in full:
Take responsibility for your actions and decisions
Being responsible seems so fundamental that, like being honest, you could assume it about all people. In reality, this is not the case. As so, I find people who are responsible and accountable to be special. I naturally gravitate towards them, and I trust them a lot more.
Thinking about how I want others to perceive me, I place a high value on this. It is a major input for a strong integrity and showing responsibility builds trust. I intend to be responsible for both my words as well as my actions.
To give this principle some color, here are a few examples:
- If I give my word, someone can rely on it. I will never skip out of what is expected of me. You can expect me to show up.
- If I mess up, I will acknowledge it. I will not try to pass off the blame to others.
- I will accept the consequences of any actions I take. I understand how events affect each other. Responsibility means seeing the full picture and owning up to it, not just a snapshot.
To summarize, this principle represents high integrity, trust, and reliability.