Responsibility and its role in leadership

Photo by by dbking 

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In those choices lie our growth and our happiness." – Stephen Covey, The 8th Habit

As leaders we can be given accountability and we can given authority, but we cannot be given responsibility. We have to take responsibility. Leadership is a choice we make. The attitude of responsibility, is a leadership mindset.  We do not become leaders because we have authority and are therefore accountable. We are leaders because of how we choose to respond. Leadership rests on our responsibility, not our authority.

Leaders take responsibility, whether or not they actually do have responsibility. Great leaders are not afraid to take responsibility for things that are out of their control. Leaders don’t wait for permission or for authority, before they take responsibility and act to make a difference. When a situation needs to be improved, leaders make the choice to take responsibility. They choose to make different choices, to take difference actions and change life’s situations. 

• Have you made the choice to take responsibility?
• Where can you take responsibility for changing?
• What are the first few steps that you can take?

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1. How leaders take responsibility
2. Leadership is a choice
3. The New Role of the Leader
4. Are you exercising your respons-ability?
5. The Importance of a Clear Leadership Philosophy

Tagged as: Attitude, Quotes