Consequences and ResponsibilitiesConsequences and Responsibilities

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

OverviewOverview

• What are the consequences of taking or What are the consequences of taking or avoiding responsibility?avoiding responsibility?

• What are the advantages of personal What are the advantages of personal accountability?accountability?

• What are the consequences of What are the consequences of irresponsibility?irresponsibility?

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

OverviewOverview

• How do defense mechanisms affect your How do defense mechanisms affect your actions and decisions?actions and decisions?

• How can you take responsibility for How can you take responsibility for your actions and decisions?your actions and decisions?

• What is responsibility and leadership?What is responsibility and leadership?

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Quick WriteQuick Write

In two or three sentences, describe a person In two or three sentences, describe a person you think has true leadership ability. The you think has true leadership ability. The

person can be a friend, an adult you admire, person can be a friend, an adult you admire, or a well-recognized leader. or a well-recognized leader.

List some examples of this leader making a List some examples of this leader making a tough decision—even if it was wrong—and tough decision—even if it was wrong—and taking responsibility for his or her actions. taking responsibility for his or her actions.

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Taking Versus Taking Versus Avoiding ResponsibilityAvoiding Responsibility

• Leadership is about taking responsibility Leadership is about taking responsibility for your actions and decisions for your actions and decisions

• ResponsibilityResponsibility is the quality of being is the quality of being – trustworthytrustworthy– reliablereliable– accountable for your actions and decisions accountable for your actions and decisions

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Taking Versus Taking Versus Avoiding ResponsibilityAvoiding Responsibility

• Responsibility requires accepting the Responsibility requires accepting the consequences of your actions and consequences of your actions and decisionsdecisions

• ConsequencesConsequences are the outcomes, or are the outcomes, or results, of your actions and decisionsresults, of your actions and decisions

• Taking responsibility is not always easyTaking responsibility is not always easy

• It requires maturity and patience It requires maturity and patience

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Make a DecisionMake a Decision

• Sometimes it’s difficult to know which decision Sometimes it’s difficult to know which decision is the right one is the right one

• At that point, make the best decision you can, At that point, make the best decision you can, based on the information you havebased on the information you have

• Sometimes you will make a bad decisionSometimes you will make a bad decision

• When that happens, explain the reason for your When that happens, explain the reason for your decision and admit your mistakedecision and admit your mistake

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Poor Leaders Offer ExcusesPoor Leaders Offer Excuses

• They look for any way they can to shift They look for any way they can to shift the blame to someone or something elsethe blame to someone or something else

• They seek a They seek a scapegoatscapegoat—someone who is —someone who is made to take the blame for others made to take the blame for others

• They refuse to take responsibility for what They refuse to take responsibility for what they’ve done they’ve done

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Advantages of AccountabilityAdvantages of Accountability

• AccountabilityAccountability is a form of is a form of honestyhonesty

• You show that you are reliableYou show that you are reliable

• You show people they can trust You show people they can trust you with responsibility and you with responsibility and authorityauthority

• You reassure others that you You reassure others that you care about themcare about them

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Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Advantages of AccountabilityAdvantages of Accountability

• You show that you are consistent—You show that you are consistent—people know what to expect of youpeople know what to expect of you

• You demonstrate that you are a careful You demonstrate that you are a careful and thoughtful decision makerand thoughtful decision maker

• You increase your ability to achieve You increase your ability to achieve your goals your goals

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Consequences of Consequences of Irresponsible DecisionsIrresponsible Decisions

• You hurt other people’s feelingsYou hurt other people’s feelings

• You harm or endanger othersYou harm or endanger others

• You harm yourselfYou harm yourself

• You lose people’s trustYou lose people’s trust

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Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Consequences of Consequences of Irresponsible DecisionsIrresponsible Decisions

• You hurt your ability to achieve goalsYou hurt your ability to achieve goals

• You can cause damage to propertyYou can cause damage to property

• You can get into trouble with the lawYou can get into trouble with the law

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Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Defense MechanismsDefense Mechanisms

• Why do some people handle their Why do some people handle their mistakes well, and even learn from them, mistakes well, and even learn from them, while others don’t? while others don’t?

• The difference often lies in a person’s The difference often lies in a person’s defense mechanismsdefense mechanisms

• In order to learn from a mistake, you have In order to learn from a mistake, you have to admit that it to admit that it waswas a mistake a mistake

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Defense MechanismsDefense Mechanisms

– DisplacementDisplacement– RepressionRepression– RationalizationRationalization

– ProjectionProjection– Acting outActing out– DenialDenial

• Reflect on what you know about the defense Reflect on what you know about the defense mechanisms people use when they feel anxiety, mechanisms people use when they feel anxiety, stress, or pressurestress, or pressure

• As you may recall, defense mechanisms take a As you may recall, defense mechanisms take a variety of forms:variety of forms:

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Defense MechanismsDefense Mechanisms

• Many people are unaware that they are Many people are unaware that they are using defense mechanisms using defense mechanisms

• They employ them over and over when They employ them over and over when confronted with similar situations confronted with similar situations

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Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Defense MechanismsDefense Mechanisms

• To break out of it, you must understand To break out of it, you must understand yourself well enough to know when you are yourself well enough to know when you are resorting to the same defense mechanismsresorting to the same defense mechanisms

• If you understand yourself, you can analyze If you understand yourself, you can analyze your reactions and escape the cycle your reactions and escape the cycle

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Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Taking ResponsibilityTaking Responsibility

• Think before you actThink before you act

• First, try to anticipate the outcome of First, try to anticipate the outcome of each decision you makeeach decision you make

• SecondSecond,, if you feel uneasy about a if you feel uneasy about a decision in any way, review the factsdecision in any way, review the facts

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Taking ResponsibilityTaking Responsibility

• Third, don’t be afraid to ask someone Third, don’t be afraid to ask someone for help for help

• Finally, don’t expect that you will Finally, don’t expect that you will always make the right decision always make the right decision

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Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Taking ResponsibilityTaking Responsibility

• Don’t be afraid of Don’t be afraid of failurefailure

• Failure is one of the best Failure is one of the best teachers teachers

• Everyone learns from Everyone learns from his or her mistakes—the his or her mistakes—the key is to try not to key is to try not to repeat themrepeat them

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Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Leadership and ResponsibilityLeadership and Responsibility

““If I had to come up with one word to define leadership, If I had to come up with one word to define leadership, I would say responsibility.”I would say responsibility.”

Air Force Gen Curtis E. LeMayAir Force Gen Curtis E. LeMayBeing Sworn in as Chief of StaffBeing Sworn in as Chief of Staff

Photo courtesy of USAF Museum

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Leadership and ResponsibilityLeadership and Responsibility

Think of a good coachThink of a good coach——

• Does he or she accept Does he or she accept responsibility for the responsibility for the team’s performance, team’s performance, discipline, and discipline, and improvement? improvement?

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Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Leadership and ResponsibilityLeadership and Responsibility

• A good coach doesn’t single out individual A good coach doesn’t single out individual players and blame them for a loss players and blame them for a loss

• The coach knows that winning (or losing) is a The coach knows that winning (or losing) is a team effort team effort

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Chapter 4, Lesson 3

Advantages of Taking Advantages of Taking ResponsibilityResponsibility

When you take responsibility, youWhen you take responsibility, you: :

– Gain the Gain the admirationadmiration of your peers and those you of your peers and those you leadlead

– Earn the Earn the respectrespect of your parents, teachers, coaches, of your parents, teachers, coaches, and other leadersand other leaders

– Build Build confidenceconfidence in your own abilities in your own abilities

– Prepare yourself for future Prepare yourself for future challengeschallenges

– Learn to trust your Learn to trust your instinctsinstincts and and judgmentjudgment

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

ReviewReview

• Leadership is about taking responsibility for Leadership is about taking responsibility for your actions and decisionsyour actions and decisions

• ResponsibilityResponsibility is the quality of being is the quality of being trustworthy, reliable, and accountable for your trustworthy, reliable, and accountable for your actions and decisionsactions and decisions

• ConsequencesConsequences are the outcomes, or results, of are the outcomes, or results, of your actions and decisions and they can be good your actions and decisions and they can be good or bador bad

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

ReviewReview

• Accountability is a form of honestyAccountability is a form of honesty• In order to learn from a mistake, you have to In order to learn from a mistake, you have to

admit that it admit that it waswas a mistake a mistake

• People who hide behind defense mechanisms People who hide behind defense mechanisms have a hard time doing thishave a hard time doing this

• Developing a positive, productive attitude about Developing a positive, productive attitude about your life requires accepting responsibility for your life requires accepting responsibility for your actions and decisionsyour actions and decisions

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

ReviewReview

• Try to anticipate the outcome of each decision Try to anticipate the outcome of each decision you makeyou make

• If you feel uneasy about a decision in any way, If you feel uneasy about a decision in any way, review the facts and your feelings regarding itreview the facts and your feelings regarding it

• Don’t be afraid of failureDon’t be afraid of failure

• Failure is one of the best teachersFailure is one of the best teachers

• When you show that you can handle the When you show that you can handle the responsibility others have given you, they will responsibility others have given you, they will trust you enough to give you more trust you enough to give you more

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

SummarySummary

• What are the consequences of taking or What are the consequences of taking or avoiding responsibility?avoiding responsibility?

• What are the advantages of personal What are the advantages of personal accountability?accountability?

• What are the consequences of What are the consequences of irresponsibility?irresponsibility?

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

SummarySummary

• How do defense mechanisms affect your How do defense mechanisms affect your actions and decisions?actions and decisions?

• How can you take responsibility for your How can you take responsibility for your actions and decisions?actions and decisions?

• What is responsibility and leadership?What is responsibility and leadership?

Chapter 4, Lesson 3

NextNext

• Done—consequences and responsibilitiesDone—consequences and responsibilities

• Next—group and team dynamicsNext—group and team dynamics

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