Excuses shirk responsibility.
Reasons accept responsibility.
Excuses are stuck in the past.
Reasons give our future new systems and next steps.
Excuses are about you.
Reasons are about the mission.
Excuses attempt to justify failure.
Reasons objectively address success and failure alike.
Excuses come from a position of weakness. “If only.”
Reasons are borne through strength. “Where did we go wrong?”
The biggest failures have no excuses.
All failures have reasons. Let’s prevent more failures by understanding our past mistakes.
Excuses are heard in the face of a problem, when energy is better spent solving the problem.
Reasons are sought out when the problem’s been resolved.
Leaders get excuses when they make their people uncomfortable, teach them to avoid responsibility, and fail to empower individuals.
The best leaders teach and empower people to reason through mistakes, with confidence and ownership.
Excuses incorporate blame and anxiety.
Reasons incorporate logic and open minds.
Amateurs make excuses.
Pros understand, and stand by, their reasons.
Excuses are whined.
Reasons can be kept to yourself.
Excuses are defensive; offered without prompting. Nobody asks for an excuse.
Reasons are only worth exploring once both parties share interest in them. When reporters ask, “why did this happen?” you are free to discuss reasons … if doing so would be accurate, transparent, and mission-connected.
Excuses are useless reasons.
Reasons may have use. Don’t turn them into excuses.
(Photo by Cpl. Niles Lee, DVIDS)
