Work That Matters

What To Do When Things Go Wrong

“I didn’t do it.”

This is a common response for me when something goes wrong. Whether it be at home or at work, I want to throw up my hands, shift responsibility and even complain about someone else. I didn’t do it, after all.

When I do this, I become a victim with no course of action. If I had nothing to do with the problem, I can do nothing about it.

In reality, usually I play a role in the situation and some (or all) of the responsibility is mine. What I need to do, is to own up to my part and learn from my mistakes. Some good questions to ask are:

1) How can I own this situation?

2) What could I have done differently?

Taking responsibility allows you to move forward. Learning from the situation enables you to learn and do better in the future.

Do you find it hard to own up to a situation that didn’t go the way you wanted? Why is it so difficult? Any tips? Share in the comments section.

For more on this topic, check out the podcast that inspired it at MichaelHyatt.com.

Hey, I’m Adam Suter. This is my personal blog. I am married to the love of my life, Michelle, and have three wonderful children. We live in Marietta, GA. I run a small nonprofit. Some of the things that fascinate me are faith, new ideas, people, stories, productivity, nonprofits, and my own children.

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