What if there was R1m in it for you? The real value and integrity of responsibility

By Candice Paine* 

I wish I could remember who it was who once told me that people choose their levels of responsibility. At that time I was probably too young and idealistic to grasp the gravitas of what I was hearing so took little notice. But recently this concept of responsibility has been perplexing me.

The good old dictionary, my first port of call when it comes to issues of philosophical import, defines it as: A state or fact of being answerable, or accountable for something within one's power, control or management.

Ok, so the definition is easy enough, but it's the nuances of how responsibility is actually put into practice that stumps me. An example: two people of similar intelligence and ability (within their power, control or management) are asked to perform a task. Invariably you will get two very different outcomes; both of which are probably passable but one of which shines and sparkles and makes you smile and the other just managed to meet the grade. What's the difference?

The difference is this. The sparkling job is the one where the 'do-er' inherently took responsibility for the outcome right up until the very last and necessary detail. They wrestled with all the possibilities, took heed of differing outcomes and made allowances for solutions/answers and angles that would have eluded them if they had just slapped something together to get the job done and off their desk. The other one will just do.

There are always many inputs that determine an outcome. You may argue that the delegation or quality of the brief directly influences the outcome. That the experience of the do-ers, the resources available to them, their education, passion, attention to detail, consequences of failure …etc also dictate the outcome.

And while these may all be true, they don't really talk to the care with which an endeavour is embarked upon or the level of quality, consideration or deep thought applied despite the environment, audience or anticipated reward.

Let's look at it another way. We have all at some point in our lives shirked responsibility. This may or may not have had significant consequences, but the cost/benefit analysis of 'dropping the ball' probably went something like this: What is the worst that can happen if I don't do/complete this task to the best of my ability? If I don't finish it, will someone else step into the breach? Do I care how this reflects on me, my team, my family, my organisation? What is my real obligation here? Once you have the answers to questions like these, you can go ahead and opt to be responsible or not.

Perhaps one way of trying to gauge whether your efforts have really matched up to the level of appropriate responsibility is to ask yourself" If there was a cheque for R1million with my name on it, or if my mother's life depended on me doing this thing right, how would I conduct myself? Would I make the call, find the angle, check the document again. Would I think twice, harder, better, more? Or would I do what I felt like doing and leave the closing for someone else to do.

You could also ask yourself, "If everyone behaved like me, would the job still get done? And what would the outcome look like?"

Responsibility starts when you acknowledge that you are, in fact, responsible – completely responsible – for your part in the matter. Your WHOLE Part. Not some of your part, or the part you like or the part that you want attributed to you. Only you get to decide to what level you are going to accede.

Thinking broadly about the obligations of responsibility must surely also touch on one's own integrity. In our world of self-promotion, where politicking, personal brands and driving your own share price seem increasingly important, you would think that your word would be your bond – and that you will do what you say you will do.

We've all spent time with garrulous people who monopolise the limelight; baffling an audience with their rhetoric, but, when it comes down to it, their actions don't match their words.

The real value and integrity of an individual lies in doing what you promised and what needs to be done; delivering something worthwhile rather than just saying you're going to deliver it.

So while no one can force you to be responsible, stepping up to the plate does require a level of maturity and consciousness, where we no longer depend on others to fill in the gaps of our neglect. Where we just do the thing that needs to be done without fanfare or applause. Just because it is what we need to do. As Eldridge Cleaver said, 'If you are not part of the solution, you ARE part of the problem.'

*Candice Paine has spent the last 20 years wading through the corporate financial world, here in SA and over on two other continents. Her experiences have been equal parts awesome and curious and sometimes a little toe-curling. Currently she is taking time out to ponder ideas like these.