Fault and Responsibility – What is the link?

I’ve been listening to the High Performance Podcast over recent weeks in which I learned about how people’s experiences in sport and business and how they’ve overcome adversity to get to where they are now. One theme that stood out to me was the link between fault and responsibility. For example, if a factor outside of a person’s control prevents them from achieving a good result, they are not at fault for what’s happened, but they are responsible for picking themselves up and analysing what could be improved in the future.

This was a wakeup call for me as I’d thought back to the times where something didn’t work out and I didn’t take responsibility. I didn’t start with myself and was too caught up on circumstances and others which meant that there was no platform for me to know areas where I could improve and seek help with. This also seems to be a common issue in society as many of us are afraid to admit responsibility as we falsely believe we are admitting fault.

Also, it’s easy for people to get lost in focusing on circumstances when something continually doesn’t go right for them. I’ve discussed The Chimp Paradox many times in my previous posts and it has a great section on how sometimes stress is self-inflicted with issues such as poor coping strategies including a lack of self-awareness and emotional intelligence, it uses the example of somebody who is struggling to complete their degree but is using excuses to cover their incapabilities, lack of effort and/or a poor approach to studying.

When something doesn’t go to plan or you are constantly failing at something, starting with yourself tends to be the most constructive plan for improvement as it can prevent you from making the same mistakes which reduce stress and gives a structure for improvement. Recognising the right person to ask for help for is also another advantage as it gives you accountability and they can tell you where you can improve as well as encouraging you along the way, however, be prepared for home truths.

Overall, there is little excuse for not taking responsibility when you’ve failed at something, even if it isn’t your fault. You have a choice, wallow in self-pity or stand up and take responsibility. Some people cannot accept uncomfortable truths even if they’re right and are constantly stuck in a rock and a hard place becoming their own worst enemy, once the comfort blanket is removed, we can address the real issues.