Principle of Leadership 3: Seek and Accept Responsibility

Check out the intro post for this series here.

When someone in your office needs help do you offer your time or expertise? In team meetings do you tend to present your findings first or do you avoid eye contact with the moderator and hope to go last?

Showcasing your willingness and ability to take on more responsibility can be the difference between a promotion, winning a new client, and developing stronger work ethic from your team.

Many of our clients suffer from lack of accountability in their marketing efforts. There is no one person that can take ownership and responsibility for their investment and ROI in marketing. Having someone they can trust that will eagerly seek out ways to improve their business is one of the many reasons companies will hire us.

Here are a few ways you can seek and accept responsibility where you work.

1. Take Ownership. Often, no one will ask you to help improve the company, a process or a department. Look for ways you can improve your work space and let your colleagues and superiors know you are interested and willing to help. In addition to improving the task at hand, it demonstrates great ownership on your part.
2. Face the Music. Being completely honest has more intrinsic value that you may think. If things go poorly don’t try to shift blame or make excuses (for yourself or your team). Instead be factual and take accountability. It may sting a little, but when you have a big success it won’t feel inflated or contrived.
3. Stay Calm and Carry On. During times of flux or change it is easy for companies and co-workers to experience added stress. This is the ideal time to offer assistance, take on additional duties or assume new tasks.

Read the other leadership principles:

1. Lead by example
2. Make sound and timely decisions
3. Seek and accept responsibility
4. Achieve professional competence
5. Know your troops and promote their welfare
6. Develop leadership potential in your followers
7. Train your troops as a team and employ them to their capabilities
8. Appreciate your own strengths and weaknesses and pursue self-improvement
9. Keep your team informed of the mission, the changing situation and the overall picture
10. Ensure your followers know your meaning and intent and lead them to the accomplishment of the mission