Accountability
Back in 2006 I had started a new job. In all the jobs I’ve had, that manager is still in the top 5 of managers I’ve had.
As I proceed with my job, along the way I discovered some, well let’s just say some inefficiencies. Weekly I would update the boss as to my activities and also what I was seeing, hearing or finding. Part of my job was to add and expand a segment of business for this company so I found myself at or onsite with existing customers.
After about 10 months the boss says, I’m creating a new role and you will not be working more closely and directly with these existing customers and the people we have supporting them. Don’t need to give too much here or want to, but the onsite teams working with companies.
One day I went to a company that I had never been too. In the beginning it would not have been a place that would have needed the new business I was tasked to build. I think I might have been in the role a few weeks, maybe a couple of months.
I set the appointment with the contact at said company and showed up at the scheduled time to meet.
Well, I kind of got my ass chewed by someone I had never met who had never met me. I listen, probably took a few notes and when he was done, I said, you have every right to be mad, what you just explained to me is unacceptable. You have my complete apologies and know that the minute I leave here this Director, this VP and this VP will be notified of the issues and I am certain that action will be taken. And I will follow up with you once a day until I know you have resolution.
Not a thing that this man was mad about, and rightly so, did I have anything to do with. But I sucked it up and took the responsibility. Not for a SECOND did I consider blaming it on the last person, or anyone before me who actually was at fault. I took the hit and I did what I could to fix it.
But I wasn’t the f**king President of the United States. I guess that’s different when you have the lives of MILLIONS of people in your hands you can just shove off any responsibility while you decimate the entire country.
Asshole!