| At SuperCamp's summer camp programs, | | | | dishonest. Although denial might take some of the |
| students are told to be someone who can be | | | | immediate heat off you, it does little to relieve |
| counted upon, someone who responds. | | | | the feelings of guilt and incompetence that come |
| Ownership is the quality of accountability and | | | | when you know you've let someone down. |
| responsibility. When you feel a sense of | | | | And that's the worst part of passing the buck: It |
| ownership, you give your best efforts and take | | | | erodes your relationships. It marks you as |
| pride in the results. When you take responsibility | | | | someone who can't be counted on. To maintain |
| for your life, you begin to make things happen. | | | | the respect of others and keep your relationships |
| You are in control because you stop blaming | | | | solid, the buck stops with you! |
| things outside yourself for your situation. You can | | | | Above the line? Or below the line? |
| create a huge shift in your life simply by taking | | | | To illustrate the key of Ownership in our summer |
| ownership of your attitude. | | | | camp and school programs, we talk about playing |
| Accountability | | | | above the line or below the line. Here's what it |
| Taking ownership is all about accountability, taking | | | | looks like: |
| ownership of what you do and think?including your | | | | Above the Line: |
| mistakes, your excuses, your failures to act, and | | | | lutions~Willingess |
| actions that you're not very proud of. | | | | Below the line: Laying Blame~Justification~Giving |
| Dismantle the word "accountability" and you'll see | | | | Up~Denial~Reasons |
| that it literally means the ability to be counted on. | | | | When you're playing above the line, you're taking |
| It means you're willing to take responsibility for | | | | responsibility, being accountable for your actions, |
| the choices you make. It means accepting | | | | and looking for solutions. You're taking ownership. |
| responsibility for making change happen, whether | | | | Playing above the line wins you freedom, trust, |
| good or bad. The bottom line is that whether | | | | and success. Above the line, you're not a victim |
| things go wrong or right, you point to yourself as | | | | of circumstances because you determine how |
| the cause. You're accountable. | | | | you'll respond to them. |
| Why hold yourself accountable? What does | | | | When you're playing below the line, you're blaming |
| accountability do for you? Accountability puts you | | | | others for your mistakes, justifying your actions, |
| in control. It allows you to make things happen. It | | | | or simply denying them. Below the line, you act as |
| makes you a potent force in your own life. | | | | if circumstances are beyond your control?it's not |
| Accountability is a whole-life concept: You can | | | | your fault, there's nothing you can do about it. |
| take ownership of your career, relationships, | | | | You live in complacency and inaction. |
| finances, education, fitness?everything that's | | | | To understand the significance of the line in your |
| important to you. You can create a massive shift | | | | life, think about some recent actions and decide |
| in your life simply by taking ownership of your | | | | whether your response was above the line or |
| attitude. Accountability puts you in control?and | | | | below the line. Did you miss a deadline? Were you |
| being in control makes you feel powerful and | | | | late for a meeting? Did you take responsibility?or |
| effective. | | | | make excuses? |
| The buck stops with you | | | | When you own your actions and attitude you can |
| When you pass the buck, you volunteer for | | | | fix mistakes and overcome failures, you have the |
| powerlessness. You make yourself a passive | | | | power to repair damaged relationships, and you |
| ingredient in the recipe of your own life. You | | | | experience a surge of potency and a sense of |
| remove yourself from the equation. | | | | pride. |
| You've heard, and probably used, denials of | | | | Affirmations for OWNERSHIP: |
| ownership that offer excuses, lay blame | | | | * I am accountable for my actions. |
| elsewhere, or otherwise justify actions that did | | | | * I take responsibility. |
| not produce a favorable outcome: the kids made | | | | * I see what needs to be done, and do it. |
| me late ... she didn't send the report ... I would | | | | "People think responsibility is hard to bear. It's not. |
| have called, but ... etc. Denying responsibility | | | | I think thatsometimes it is the absence of |
| doesn't make the problem go away, and it may | | | | responsibility that is harder to bear. You have a |
| even make you look unreliable and even | | | | great feeling of impotence." ? |