The Age of Responsibility
by Linda Tarrant

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We’ve had the great depressions, the age of Aquarius, the "me" generation, and now we have the age of responsibility. It’s not that we all want to be more responsible than we were in the past, but we don’t feel like we have much choice. Everyone I know is working harder and longer than they have ever worked. Many of us are doing the jobs that two or three people used to do. No we don’t complain, because we’re afraid we’ll get fired if we cause too much trouble. I have to say that I’m worried about us. All of us. Individuals and organizations are pushing their limits. I don’t know how long we can do this before there are disastrous effects.

Now, don’t think that I’m a doom and gloomer. As a matter of fact, I’m a pretty positive person. But I think we need to get a grip on ourselves, personally and professionally. I fear that we’re getting o consumed by the urgent, that we’re forgetting what’s really important. Here’s a little reality check. Make a list of all the new activities that you’ve started doing in the last 12 months. Now make a lit of all the things you’ve stopped doing in the last 12 months (include work and non-work activities). Now, check off the things that you decided to either start or stop without feeling compelled by anyone else – it was your choice. As you review your list, here are a few questions you might ask:

1. Is your start list longer than your stop list? If so, now you know why you’re so exhausted! If you keep adding without eliminating activities, pretty soon you’re going to be all out of energy.

2. How many check marks do you have? Do you feel in control of your life? Are you happy about the things you decided to start and stop?

3. How good are you at saying no? Do you say it more to yourself or to others?

4. How many of your new activities are energy drainers and how many are energizers? If you’re going to add activities, make sure that some of them replenish you.

Really responsible people take good care of themselves, so they have the energy to do what they need to do. Look at the speedometer on your car. What’s it’s top speed? Even if you could legally and safely drive that fast, how long do you think your car would last if it always traveled at that speed? Right, not very long. It would burn out. Now, what’s so different about you, or for that matter, your organization? We can’t keep running at full speed ahead. We must figure out what’s essential and then focus our energies in those areas. We can’t do it all. Especially since we have fewer resources, including people. We either have to do different things or do things differently. It would help if we had a clear vision, values and plans. Without a focus in our business and in our personal lives, we don’t know what to say "yes" or "no" to. And others won’t know why we’re saying it, either.

Being responsible means that you do what you say you will do. If you can’t deliver, you’ll say so. We’re afraid that saying "no" might be interpreted as a lack of commitment. In reality, it means that all of our time and energy is already spoken for. If you try to do everything, you won’t get much done. You, your organization, and your family need to realize that.