I understand how rude my title sounds, and honestly it should seem rude. When something fails or doesn't go right, it's usually our own fault and not another person's. All too often I hear people quick to point the blame on someone. Look, it's your fault something screwed up, and if it's not your fault I'd rather you tell me how you'll make it right.
In any situation in life you must learn to own the blame even when it's not your blame. People will respect you a lot more if you fix the problem. So what if you didn't create the problem, you know about it, now fix it.
Apparently It's Not Your Fault...Ever
This is the philosophy I've often taken to different jobs and employers, too often though it's not well appreciated. Countless times I would fix the problem rather than going to the person who caused it. Apparently that's not the "right" thing to do. But I disagree.
This past week I pre-ordered a game from Best Buy, my local one mind you and not through the web. It didn't show up on Tuesday, and that's fine I suppose but if I order something that's said to be there that day and it's not I'll want some answers. So, like any normal consumer I asked questions. To my surprise, not a single person was to blame...in fact no one was to blame. Wait, what?
Oh No You Didn't
You mean to tell me that a major corporation, its franchise, and every single employee was not to blame for a screw up? On top of that they tried to tell me it was the distributors fault. Yet, every other store in the area had the game in stock. Instead of taking any blame, it was always...always another person's fault.
Two days went by, the game released on Tuesday, and I finally got it on Friday. The two days in-between I contacted both corporate and the local store to figure out the issue. Both days I was given the same BS response telling me it was "not their fault". Yeah...and pigs fly.
I despise this, I absolutely positively despise this. As a consumer, it's a slap in your face to be given the run-around. As a business, it's absolutely embarrassing and amateur. OWN THE MISTAKE. If you can't own the mistake, FIND THE SOLUTION.
Simple, you either tell me you screwed up (which people make mistakes and I understand it happens) or you tell me you'll get the answer and call me and let me know when to expect delivery. And that's just it, not one time was I offered a phone call once my product arrived. They just expected me to call back tomorrow and continue to call until it was there. Whatever happened to being courteous to your customer? What if this was something important, something I actually needed to live (obviously it wasn't..it was a game but it could have been something else)?
This is just a little example of the world these days. I have too often worked for people who were quick to brag about their "work" while making sure those who actually worked took the blame for everything. Those people taking the blame learned to own the issue. I myself would often own the mistake at the top and find the solution myself.
In retail, and most consumer markets, it's now proven that the mistake is NEVER THEIRS. It's Bob's fault (he's some truck driver for some company who obviously most likely had the delivery that was scheduled for Tuesday but for some reason hasn't quite got here yet). Heck, not even just in retail but in everything.
It's More Than Just Work
Relationships (I'm guilty of this one) are quick to go sour and we're quick to point the finger. "It's your fault we won't work", bet you've heard that one out there folks. Or no matter what happens you aren't happy because it's the other person's fault.
Look, I guess what I'm getting at here is we need to start owning blame and fixing problems instead of pointing to someone else and dumping all of the fault on their plate. We're better than that as human beings. You know, one of the greatest assets of the Human race is our ability to help each other and care for each other. We're also very committed people, who often commit themselves to a cause they are willing to die for.
Do The Right Thing
So why is it when it comes to work, serving people, or just doing the right thing we can't seem to get our heads out of our rear and do it? That's all I'm asking, do the right thing. Fix problems, don't blame others, and work to serve and help others.
In any situation in life you must learn to own the blame even when it's not your blame. People will respect you a lot more if you fix the problem. So what if you didn't create the problem, you know about it, now fix it.
Apparently It's Not Your Fault...Ever
This is the philosophy I've often taken to different jobs and employers, too often though it's not well appreciated. Countless times I would fix the problem rather than going to the person who caused it. Apparently that's not the "right" thing to do. But I disagree.
This past week I pre-ordered a game from Best Buy, my local one mind you and not through the web. It didn't show up on Tuesday, and that's fine I suppose but if I order something that's said to be there that day and it's not I'll want some answers. So, like any normal consumer I asked questions. To my surprise, not a single person was to blame...in fact no one was to blame. Wait, what?
Oh No You Didn't
You mean to tell me that a major corporation, its franchise, and every single employee was not to blame for a screw up? On top of that they tried to tell me it was the distributors fault. Yet, every other store in the area had the game in stock. Instead of taking any blame, it was always...always another person's fault.
Two days went by, the game released on Tuesday, and I finally got it on Friday. The two days in-between I contacted both corporate and the local store to figure out the issue. Both days I was given the same BS response telling me it was "not their fault". Yeah...and pigs fly.
I despise this, I absolutely positively despise this. As a consumer, it's a slap in your face to be given the run-around. As a business, it's absolutely embarrassing and amateur. OWN THE MISTAKE. If you can't own the mistake, FIND THE SOLUTION.
Simple, you either tell me you screwed up (which people make mistakes and I understand it happens) or you tell me you'll get the answer and call me and let me know when to expect delivery. And that's just it, not one time was I offered a phone call once my product arrived. They just expected me to call back tomorrow and continue to call until it was there. Whatever happened to being courteous to your customer? What if this was something important, something I actually needed to live (obviously it wasn't..it was a game but it could have been something else)?
This is just a little example of the world these days. I have too often worked for people who were quick to brag about their "work" while making sure those who actually worked took the blame for everything. Those people taking the blame learned to own the issue. I myself would often own the mistake at the top and find the solution myself.
In retail, and most consumer markets, it's now proven that the mistake is NEVER THEIRS. It's Bob's fault (he's some truck driver for some company who obviously most likely had the delivery that was scheduled for Tuesday but for some reason hasn't quite got here yet). Heck, not even just in retail but in everything.
It's More Than Just Work
Relationships (I'm guilty of this one) are quick to go sour and we're quick to point the finger. "It's your fault we won't work", bet you've heard that one out there folks. Or no matter what happens you aren't happy because it's the other person's fault.
Look, I guess what I'm getting at here is we need to start owning blame and fixing problems instead of pointing to someone else and dumping all of the fault on their plate. We're better than that as human beings. You know, one of the greatest assets of the Human race is our ability to help each other and care for each other. We're also very committed people, who often commit themselves to a cause they are willing to die for.
Do The Right Thing
So why is it when it comes to work, serving people, or just doing the right thing we can't seem to get our heads out of our rear and do it? That's all I'm asking, do the right thing. Fix problems, don't blame others, and work to serve and help others.
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