3 Warning Signs for Responsible Leaders

I've come to notice some warning signs in my speech. These are words that help me identify when I'm not being a character-based leader. Whenever I use these words, I'm avoiding a character attribute that is valuable to me. For each one, I try to let them trigger me to change my thoughts and my behavior.

The 3 Warning Signs are "but", "they", and "need".


"But" is the excuse word. It always provides an alternative. But when everything before the "but" is related to a personal responsibility, commitment or promise, we're always our best when we simply stop the sentence and keep the "but" to ourselves.

"I should have gotten my report done on time, but…"
"I know we didn't make our profit projections this month, but…"

How often to you catch yourself using "but" as an excuse? Let "but" be a flag to you. Listen for it in the speech of yourself and others and try to stop using it. Simply using it less will send the signal that you're a person who means what you say. Avoid its use for a while and you'll be seen as more responsible. Don't agree? Prove me wrong. Stop using it for a couple of months and then ask a trusted co-worker or your spouse. Just say, "I've been trying to be a bit more responsible lately. Have you noticed any areas where I could improve?" Or, "Have you seen any improvement?" (Chances are your spouse will need more than 60 days.) Let me know how it goes for you. Even if you don't see it right away, the world will have one less victim making excuses for everything that happens. We can always make the world better one person at a time, if we'll only start with ourselves. Let "but" trigger you to accountability.


"They" is a victim word. When we use the word "they", we give others power over our situation and we deny our own ability to make a difference. Often "they" aren't the only ones who can do something about a particular problem; "they" are simply the ones we'd choose to do something about it. They may in fact choose us!

In just about any circumstance, there is always something we can do too. And until we've done everything we can, we don't need to worry about "they" and what "they" haven't done. Sure, "they" have some power. "They" could do something. "But" I take my destiny into my own hands when I stop waiting for "they" and I engage "me."

Just yesterday another friend used a sister word - "someone." "Someone should do something about the problem." Whenever we believe "they" should get "someone" to do something, volunteer. Let that person be you. Choose yourself. Stop letting "they" make you a victim. Let "they" trigger you to responsibility.


"Need" is another of my trigger words. It's the newest addition. Listening to Brené Brown's Daring Greatly, I now consider "need" to be a scarcity word. Whenever I find myself thinking about needs, I'm working from a mindset that says "there isn't enough." "We need more power Scotty!" Most of what we need we already have. Often what we need is the willingness and the courage to use those resources in pursuit of great goals, or lofty objectives.


Let "need" be a challenge to you. Never let it be a complaint about scarcity, but rather an order for more of what the world needs from you. Let "need" trigger you to action.

Maybe you have other warning signs that trigger you to action. If so, do you mind sharing them below? What other words challenge you to bring your best "you" back into action?

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