When we fully embrace accountability, we understand that excuses hinder excellent performance. The more excuses we make, the easier it becomes to rationalize behaviors that hold us back from achieving our best. In my work with individuals and organizations, I frequently encounter these rationalizations that justify poor performance. We’ve all heard them:
- “That’s just the way I am.”
- “It’s been this way for 20 years.”
- “Our industry is different.”
- “They won’t let us do that.”
- “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The truth is, organizations and individuals are perfectly structured to get the results they achieve. When we let our worldview or paradigm blind us to ineffective behaviors, we spend more time justifying than changing. None of us are perfect, but we all have the capacity to change.
Change requires awareness. We must recognize excuses before they multiply into rationalizations. The more excuses we identify, the less power they have to stop us from reaching our potential.
Change requires courage. It demands seeing the world differently and altering our behaviors accordingly. It means breaking old habits, acknowledging what isn’t working, and stepping out of our comfort zones to do things differently.
Change requires commitment. Anything less than 100% commitment leaves room to revert to comfortable but ineffective behaviors.
Embrace change, reject rationalizations, and move forward to grow.
All my best,
Randy