Is taking responsibility a challenge?

Is it easier to make excuses for your results?

In the just completed London Olympics I was very impressed with a runner from Canada’s 4x100 relay team. His name is Jared Connaughton and is 27 years old from Prince Edward Island. He was part of a team that finished a unexpected third place in the relay behind the record breaking Jamaican team. At least that is what it appeared to have happened. Then he saw the disqualification of his team posted on the large screen in the stadium, and viewed the replay of the race. He noticed the reason for the disqualification.

His first reaction was to accept responsibility for his inadvertent action of stepping on the line in his running lane. His comment says everything about the type of person Jared is. He said “I have to own up to this, I can’t show people that I’m upset because I have to be responsible for what I did.”

Could you have done this?

If you are hesitant to say ‘yes’, what can you do today to become more responsible for your actions?