Take Responsibility - Accept the Role to Take Action

“Do what you are expected to do, and you will survive. Do more than you are expected to do, and you will thrive.”

- Harvey Mackay, American author (1933- )

Even if you're not in charge, you may be the first to recognize when something new needs to get done. Maybe somebody has dropped the ball, causing a shortfall. Or something has come up, resulting in a new requirement. You may have noticed a problem that ought to be corrected. The question is, who will take care of it?

How do you know when to take on another responsibility? It’s tempting to say no right off the bat because you may already feel overwhelmed with what’s on your plate. And what if you aren’t able to deliver? It’s tough to put your reputation on the line when you aren’t sure about the outcome. Maybe someone else will step up and take responsibility.

The truth is, life’s more interesting when you’re involved in the action. Accepting challenges is how you get what you want and grow stronger as a person. You have a lot going for you. You can use your strengths to figure out what to do. When you get your chance to contribute, whether it’s in your professional or personal life, why not go for it?

Ultimately, you’re in control of how much responsibility you take on. You can decide when to say no and when to say yes. You can take on something new simply because you want to, knowing that it will, in some way, make the world around you a better place. Sometimes even a simple act that takes just 10 seconds can make a big difference, such as picking up litter by the side of the road.

Remember, you have the strength within you to accept new roles and make sure important tasks get done.

A Fortune Cookie...

Do what needs to be done, and your world will be more to your liking.

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Post by Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., Copyright 2010. Building Personal Strength . (Permission to use photo purchased from istockphoto.com)