Are you living above the line where you take responsibility, are accountable for your actions, and take ownership of every aspect of your life? Or do you live more below the line blaming anyone other than yourself, denying what may be difficult to accept, and making excuses for your behavior? It is easy to say, “I can’t get anything done because she/he is always interrupting me.” Or I could do better if ____ fill in the blank. Are you complaining about others behind their back? We all have said and done things that fall below the line. I would be lying if I said I was always living above the line. I’m human. I make mistakes and sometimes it is just easier to blame others, make excuses, or deny responsibility. However, the first step is to recognize this is happening and then shift your mindset to “above the line” thinking. What is my role in this situation? How can I do something to make it better? What do I need to move forward? What do I need to understand more?
This line of thinking applies both professionally and personally. When you are feeling the below the line behaviors creeping in, think to yourself, “do I really want to live below the line?” I’m guessing most of us do not. In what ways can you shift your mindset to holding yourself to a higher standard by taking responsibility for every area of your life, hold yourself accountable for your behaviors, and take ownership to truly live the life you desire?
For more info, check out this whitepaper on Team Effectiveness or IM me and we can talk about how you can stay focused on living above the line.