by Holly Holbert Schussler

Created on: March 18, 2009

Responsible people are those who step up to the plate when they are challenged. At least, that is my defiition of responsibility. Morally, that can mean taking a stand on an issue. It can also mean being a leader at an unpopular moment. It can be the person who does the "right thing" on a day to day basis. It is both simple and complex to be responsible.

The person who takes an unpopular stand may find himself immersed in controversy. This position may be defensible morally and ethically but still be unpopular. The responsible peson does not vacillate; instead, he upholds his point of view with facts and logic. Even though emotion can be a driving force, it will more than likely be persuasion that wins out.

Let's say that you are at a meeting where things start to get out of control. There is a lot of dissent. You have an issue to discuss but you realize that nothing productive is going to happen unless a leader takes control and restates this isssue that is causing the dissension. You step up and instead of arguing your point, you try to verbalize the current sticking point. You find people aligning with you and others are polarized against that idea. It becomes necessary for you to lead the discusision to an area of compromise. That, to me, is being a responsible person.

The most responsible of actions are those taken on a daily basis. It is the person who makes his monthly payments on his car or house, the mother who sends her children off to school with a substantial breastfast daily, the employee who shows up for work on time and prepared to work as well as scores of others who feel they ae doing their part to keep life in balance.

From an employe's perspective, it's the employer who follows through when he offers a raise or promotion, or who provides medical insurance or retirement benefits that is responsible. In a difficult situation, an employer will do what is best for his employees and stock holders and see his company survive. Examples are on the Fortune 100's top 10: NetApp, Cisco and Genentech come to the forefront immediately.

It is not difficult today to see how many of these responsibilities have been shirked by individuals, companies and governments. Bernie Madoff, AIG and government officials, such has Barnie Frank and even Tim Gaitner's performance are obvious examples.

It is the moral imperative of every society to make rules to live by and then to enforce them. If these rules are not enforced, then these are not the values by which the citizens of this country live. If people are not true to their espoused values, other values supercede. This can destroy the fabric of a country and cause it to fail its citizens. For those who value self determination, self discipline, high achievement and a moral compass, the future is brighter. Although there are many good people following religious or ethical precepts, when the leadership of a country does not behave in a moral manner, the influence of the leadership is then greater than that of an individual. If the coutnry is a theocracy or an oligarchy, fewer freedoms are permitted. Therefore, it is also the responsibiltiy of the people to choose leaders wisely and to strive to influence them to behave in a responsible manner themselves.

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