Grit 3

(Friday)

 

In this lesson, we’ll look at the fourth key to developing grit: accountability.

Before we go further, we must note that there are many other traits or qualities that contribute to developing grit, but the four we cover in our lesson are the four that will help you become highly valued in the workplace.

Primer Questions:

1) Do you like to take the lead when you’re in a group project or team? Why or why not?

2) Would your parents say that you are responsible? What about your friends? Or Teachers?

Write your comments in your journal.

Taking Ownership

What would you say is the difference between taking ownership of a task and being accountable for completing a task?

Is one better than the other? Or do they go hand in hand? Discuss this question with a group, or write down your comments in your journal.

The buck stops here.

The most valuable employees are the ones who understand it is his or her responsibility to personally see that a job or assignment is completed.

Those who are successful in life and the workplace hold themselves accountable. But how can you develop accountability?

Watch the video.

These videos are designed to be very simple. Once you understand the main point of the video, work on conveying that thought to a younger sibling or friend. Not only does it reinforce your learning, but allows you to develop your ability to train others.

Remember: Taking ownership involves taking pride in your work.

Taking ownership or being accountable can also include taking pride in your effort and progress.

In school, there is no real repercussion if you turn in an assignment late or not at all. Most likely it won’t even impact your grade point average.

But if you don’t take pride in your work at your job, if you don’t take on personal accountability, it can impact your reputation. It could even cost you your job.

Are you confident enough to fail?

People who don’t like to be responsible or accountable usually lack confidence in themselves.

How can you strengthen your confidence in the face of failure in order to be more accountable?

Watch the video.

Connecting the dots between failure, accountability, and success.

What would you do?

Scenario 1 You’re a manager. You ask two teams to come up with a new type of paint that is fire resistant. The first team’s sample resists the torch for a few seconds and then bursts into flames. The same thing happens with the second team’s sample. Both teams failed on their first attempt.

The first team goes right back into the lab and begins work on their next sample, while the second team begins to point fingers and blame each other for the failure.

As their manager, which team is more useful to your company? ​

If you had to let go of one team, which team would you fire? Why? ​

What would you do?

Scenario 2: You’re playing on a sports team. Whenever something goes wrong, there are two players that always try to place the blame on others. No matter if they were at fault or not.

At the same time, there are several players on your team, and no matter what happens, positive or negative, they take responsibility or blame.

Even when your team is losing, these players do not start making excuses or blaming others.

Which players do you respect more? Those who blame others? Or those who always hold themselves accountable, even if something isn’t their fault? Why? ​

LAYOFF PROOFING

Many of today’s young people graduate school with a fear of failure. Fear of being wrong, of having an idea or project not work out.

Once in a job, these types of people shy away from any sort of responsibility. They’d rather not be a team lead or provide direction for a group. They may even be too afraid to make decisions on their own without double and triple checking with other teammates or their manager. Most of all, they will not take any blame if something should go wrong with a project or task.

If you can learn to take accountability for your actions, you can become a very valuable employee. You will need to make good decisions, and be a logical problem solver. But if you don’t shy away from responsibility, and take ownership and pride in any project assigned to you, you will be given more and more responsibility.

You will become someone your boss, company, or team looks to, to take the lead. They’ll depend on you for important projects. You’ll be indispensable.

 

STEPS FOR CHANGE

  • The world is changing rapidly. Every day. Changes in the economy, technology, medicine, and science are constant. To be successful you will need to embrace change and be ready for it. In both work and life, complacency kills, whereas having the grit to make any change necessary or overcome any obstacle encountered will lead to success.

  • Keys to developing grit is the ability to adapt. Adapt or change your goals as needed. Adapt to your environment by learning the skills needed to be successful. Adapt to the needs of others in work and life. Find different ways of doing or seeing things in order to adapt to changing circumstances. If you learn to be flexible and adapt to changes around you, you will succeed in work and life.

  • Do not shy away from responsibility due to fear of failure. View any failure as a learning experience, a stepping stone to ultimate success. Thomas Edison had thousands of failed light bulbs before he invented one that worked. Learn from each mistake. Take pride in what you do. Take ownership. Step up and be accountable in the workplace and you’ll be an invaluable employee.

 

The workplace is not the classroom

In the classroom, you may not speak up or take responsibility because failure means a lower grade. Or you may not speak up because you feel you don’t have the correct answer, or that you’ll look stupid. But in the workplace, we value your thoughts and ideas. We want you to step up and take on the challenges that we face as a company. Don’t be afraid to be accountable or responsible. Continue to develop grit, that never-give-up, never-give-in attitude. Continue to take pride in all you do, and you’ll have a bright future.

Thought of the day.

“Leaders inspire accountability through their ability to accept responsibility before they place blame.”― Courtney Lynch