Take Responsibility for Results

The Speed of Trust
- Stephen Covey

As my father taught me when I was seven years old, a real key to success is in taking responsibility for results – not activities. He told me I was responsible to keep the yard “green” and “clean”; he didn’t tell me I was to water the lawn twice a week, mow it on Saturdays, or pick up the garbage and put it in the can. In fact, he told me I could get the yard “green” and “clean” any way I liked it. The point was that when I accounted to him, I had to account for results.

That lesson turned out to be the beginning of a major learning in my life: It’s vital to take responsibility for results – not just activities. This approach unleashes creativity. It helps you understand that if you can’t get results one way, you try another way – you don’t just sit there and whine, “Well, I did what you told me to do!” It’s helped me to release ingenuity in working with coworkers and children alike.

Just consider the contrast:

ACTIVITIES	RESULTS
I called the customer.	I made the sale.
I did the research, I wrote the report.	I got the grant.
I took the class	I learned how to give an effective presentation.
I stayed on my diet.	I lost 13 pounds
I tried.	”Do or do not; there is no try.” - Master Yoda

A results focus is a way of thinking. It’s a different mentality than an activities focus.

“It’s no use saying, “We are doing our best.” You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.” – Winston Churchill