Stop Playing the Blame Game!

“Responsible people do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.” - Stephen Covey

You know there are lessons all around us if we just open our eyes, and we are never too young or too old to learn. I witnessed a lesson in the making on blame and responsibility as I listened to a conversation between my three year old grandson, Trey, and his father, Deuce. It was almost time for Trey’s 3rd birthday party to start and he was biding his time with his sister, Emme, until his friends arrived. He was playing along nicely until pandemonium broke out and Trey came crying to his father about something his sister did to him. There he was, whining to his Dad about what Emme had done to him, and his Dad responded with, ‘And what did you do to her?’ Trey immediately quit crying, turned around walked off without saying a word. I almost fell off my chair. Out of the mouth’s of babes. Even in his three year old mind he knew that blaming his sister was not going to cut it. My grandson knew without a doubt that he was just as responsible as his sister for the fight.

This was a life lesson in the making. How many times in your personal and professional life have you fallen as a willing victim to the Blame Game? If only he/she would do their job, everything would be fine. If only the economy was better, my business would be more successful. Contrary to popular belief, it takes two to play the game. And in case you haven’t noticed you are usually one of the participants.

Have you ever noticed that every time something happened in your life you were there? You contributed to the outcome. You made a choice, whether it was a conscious or unconscious choice (i.e. let someone else choose for you). Responsible people do not blame others for their shortcomings. You are responsible for the results you want to achieve in your business or your life. And if it is not showing up, it is your responsibility to find out what’s working and not working.

Here are three steps that successful people use to get out of the Blame Game and into creating a more powerful life with more powerful choices.

1. Be accountable. Stop blaming others and start asking yourself what you can do differently that would change this situation for the better.

2. Take a look at what’s working and what’s not working. Get rid of what is not working.

3. Be solution oriented not problem focused. It’s the quickest way to success that I know of.

Always remember this: when you are pointing the finger of blame at somebody else, there are 3 fingers on your hand pointing right back at you.

Isn’t it time to step up to the plate, grab the responsibility bat, and take ownership of what’s going on in your life? Just think of all the valuable time you’ll save by naming it, claiming it, owning it and then getting rid of it. Plus I can guarantee you that you’ll sleep better at night with a clear conscience.