Responsibility

When the burden of responsibility is heavy, the question of the distribution of responsibility naturally arises. The distribution of responsibility is the decision on who and how much in a given situation should take responsibility: whether to take all the responsibility on oneself or to lay it on another.

Or throw everything on the circumstances?

As a rule, in the generally accepted way, responsibility is placed on the one who is ready to solve the problem and who can cope with the task, for whom the task is feasible. The feasibility of a task is determined by how difficult the task is and what opportunities a person has to solve it. The easier the task, the more opportunity a person had to influence the situation, anticipate problems and solve them, the more responsibility he has.

The person was late for the meeting: “Sorry, I overslept, the alarm clock didn’t ring!” — such rotten excuses are not accepted. A responsible person can handle his alarm clock.

If the task is overwhelming and the situation is unpredictable, what is the demand from a person?

If we are late for a meeting because the third world war has begun or a huge asteroid is falling to earth, then hardly anyone in this situation will make claims to us: this is force majeure, situations beyond the possibility of our influence on them.

In this scenario, a person who is stronger and more responsible, who is used to taking responsibility, is usually appointed as a responsible person. This is useful for the success of the business, but it has the disadvantage that such a system involuntarily overloads strong people and underloads weak and lazy people: the more they demonstrate that they can’t do everything and that they are not ready to take on something, the less work they get it, the happier they freebie.

This shortcoming is devoid of an approach that takes into account not only the feasibility of the task, but is focused on expediency and pedagogical effect. This approach sometimes goes beyond the bounds of traditional common sense and, as an independent creative solution, can only be recommended in relation to adequate people of high culture. See →

How much responsibility to take on?

The responsibility of any person consists of two parts — mandatory and optional. The mandatory part includes everything that is imposed on a person by law and morality: civil and criminal liability, responsibility to parents and children, business obligations, etc. Where liability is not defined, the two main guidelines are expediency and pedagogical effect. See →

How much responsibility should be placed on others?

Landmarks are similar: Feasibility, Expediency, Pedagogy. In particular,

1. Teach and train students. “Can you do it? I charge!” Study the methods of this — see Appeal. When to help and how — see the Case Guide
2. Take care of the wounded. The man tried, but he did not succeed, now he is worried, his soul hurts. Hit extra wounds? No, better remove or at least reduce his responsibility. “It wasn’t up to you. You did everything you could!” (Even if it’s not entirely true, it’s better.)
3. Strain the parasites: «Be kind, please answer!» If an icicle fell on your head, and there are employees of the DEZ nearby, do not tell them about your 100% responsibility for your life and safety. Convince them that it is their responsibility to make sure that icicles are removed from the roofs in time. And to make it more convincing, believe in it yourself for the time of the story.

If an icicle has landed on your head and you can convincingly explain to housekeepers that they are responsible for the icicles, then it’s worth doing. At this point, it is useful to remove all responsibility associated with icicles, and put it on them as much as possible. If there is no one to explain their responsibility to, and your life is dear to you, then it is better to take full responsibility for attentiveness to icicles. One hundred percent. It will be better!

Responsibility Management in Practical Psychology

The personal-active approach, which assumes personal responsibility for both external and internal behavior — high awareness and development of the will, personal efforts and personal responsibility, a high level of personal development — is not suitable for everyone. Most of all, this approach is in demand in working with business people, businessmen — people who are developed and accustomed to responsibility. It is clear that this is not the most frequent contingent of psychologists. For the majority of psychologists’ clients, a shared responsibility approach is more attractive, when many things can be attributed to repressed emotions, a closed soul, polluted chakras and birth trauma↑.