top of page

Life and Leadership Blog

JSC Logo-62.png
cropped-bridge1-1.2.jpg
Writer's pictureJoel Smith

The 5 Levels of Irresponsibility

Updated: Feb 12, 2023

Level 1 – Try to understand only what you need to know to get by.

turkey-profile-picture-bird-53460
  1. Figure out how to do things just well enough that others won’t notice your shortcuts.

  2. Just do what everyone else is doing, don’t make waves­­­­­­­­­­­­­­.

  3. If you’re not sure, just do what makes sense to you.

Level 2 – Make sure no one can point a finger at you, cover your tracks.

  1. Sometimes this means twisting the truth a little or claiming ignorance “I didn’t know…”

  2. Protect your appearance of importance at all cost; don’t take the blame for anything…ever!

  3. “Look, if you want more out of me, you will need to pay me more”

  4. Don’t let anyone else get more favor from the boss than you. That’s your territory, protect it at all cost.

Level 3 – Make sure everyone else is being responsible so they don’t cause you more work.

  1. Don’t do any more than what the others are doing. It’s not fair that I do more than them!

  2. As long as you aren’t any worse than everyone else, you can claim that you are just doing what they do.

  3. “It’s not my fault that he did what he saw me do, I didn’t make him do it”

Level 4 – Make sure others fully understand the chain of command.

  1. Entitlement – “I am the boss, it’s my way or the highway!” or “Do you see my badge? What does it say?”

  2. Representation – “My boss doesn’t get it! I’m not doing all that extra stuff; I will do it my way!”

  3. Tolerance – Let them keep getting away with crap,  so you don’t have to confront them. Confrontation is never good; don’t want to upset the apple cart.

  4. Servanthood – Make sure you are in control and well served. You deserve to reap. the rewards for making it to the top. “It’s good to be the king!”

  5. Delegation – Get others to do the stuff you don’t want to do. You have power now so use it!

Level 5 – Takes credit for the success, but certainly not for failure of a group or organization.

  1. Commitment – “I will do this as long as it doesn’t impede on my personal life or get too hard.”

  2. Leverage – Hire only when in serious need, try not to lose anyone or you will then have to start interviewing again.

  3. Fortitude – “If it gets too hard, I can always move on and get another job: The grass is always greener.

  4. Accountability – “I just don’t want to be blamed for anything. I don’t know if my self esteem can handle that”

  5. Stand your Grownd – “I am not changing for anyone!” “This is how I have always done it and how I want’ to do it”

  6. Validation – “Look what I did!”

Great leadership is contagious!  Unfortunately, so is bad leadership.



3 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page