| > | | | | didn’t remind me itwas due today. |
| Learn how eliminating excuses will accelerate your | | | | - I am not ready to give my report to the Board |
| success in life, career, and business. | | | | of Directorstomorrow because I was on vacation the |
| Have you ever been in a situation where you were | | | | last two weeks andI didn’t prepare. |
| unable tomake good on a promise or commitment? | | | | A reason is defined as a legitimate, truthful account |
| Perhaps you werelate with a report to your | | | | of asituation which includes explanation of your part. |
| manager, unable to take a child tothe playground, or | | | | Rooted ingood judgment, there exists a willingness to |
| late for dinner with your partner. Thequestion is, | | | | own youractions and deal with the consequences. |
| after the realization sets in that you can notdeliver, | | | | Reasons seek toclarify what happened, who was |
| how do you explain why you were unable to | | | | responsible, and how todeal with the situation and |
| meetyour obligation? Do you stand in the truth, own | | | | seek immediate solutions so thatone can do better |
| your actionsand give an honest reason, or do you | | | | now and in the future. A reason is notmotivated by |
| make excusesconcerned only with freeing yourself | | | | fear, but driven by respect and integrity. Hereare |
| from blame? | | | | some examples: |
| Is there a difference? For many of us, we have | | | | - The reason I am late is because I had a flat |
| probablythought of the two as being one in the | | | | tire. |
| same. You may beasking yourself, Is there really | | | | - Although I was assigned this report last Friday, |
| a difference? At times, thedistinction between | | | | thereason my report is late is because the mainframe |
| the two can be difficult to see. After all,excuses | | | | crashedFriday afternoon and has been down ever |
| have the ability to be disguised as reasons foolingyou | | | | since. I haveattempted to retrieve the information |
| into thinking, That sounds like a valid reason. | | | | from our satellitelocation, but to no avail. |
| In fact,when you tune in and really listen, the facade | | | | - The reason I will not give a Power Point |
| of an excusewill quickly give way to expose the | | | | presentation isbecause the projector just died. Since |
| truth of falsehood. | | | | it will be at least anhour before we locate a |
| Explanations come in two forms — excuses | | | | replacement, I will proceed without itand ask that |
| and reasons.Remember: you make excuses and you | | | | you follow along via my handout. |
| give reasons. | | | | Action Steps When you are in the moment of |
| Explanations An excuse is an attempt to free oneself | | | | truth,remember the choice is yours — you can |
| fromblame by deflecting attention and responsibility | | | | make excuses or youcan give valid reasons. Here are |
| ontosomeone or something else. Excuses diminish | | | | a few questions to askyourself before you speak |
| your powerand say I am not willing to take | | | | out to determine if you are aboutto make excuses |
| responsibility. Instead, Iwill settle for whatever path | | | | or provide a reason: |
| others choose for me as a resultof my actions. | | | | 1. What is your intent - is it to release yourself from |
| Making excuses will erode othersconfidence in you, | | | | totalblame or to provide a straightforward, honest |
| and destroy your self-respect. Therefusal to be | | | | account of thesituation and your actions? |
| personally accountable is rooted in the fear offailure - | | | | 2. Are you willing to accept the consequences of |
| to be known as someone who did not deliver. | | | | youractions and take steps to improve the situation? |
| Thisdefense mechanism results in a plea to convince | | | | 3. Are you willing to honestly acknowledge the |
| others tooverlook your part and to minimize the | | | | degree ofyour responsibility, and is there anything |
| damage caused byyour role in a given situation. | | | | you could havedone differently? |
| To say one has a good excuse is an | | | | The next time you are faced with the prospect of |
| oxymoron whichimplies there is a difference between | | | | explainingyour actions, ask yourself Is this an |
| good and bad excuses.All excuses are bad and | | | | excuse or a validreason? Always find the courage |
| unacceptable. Here are someexamples: | | | | to behave with integrityand honor your self-respect. |
| - I was late to the meeting because the clock in | | | | When faced with a choice, thequestion is what will |
| thelunchroom has been broken for a month. | | | | you do? |
| - My report is late because my manager | | | | |