Learning and Leading in Ministry: Chapter Twenty-Four

Excuses Never Work

Learn responsibility.

Alexander Kuzmin, the 33 year old mayor of Megion in western Siberia came up with a great idea. In August of 2007, he issued a list of excuses that will no longer be tolerated from city employees and bureaucrats. Officials must stop using phrases such as “I don’t know” and “it’s lunch time”. Mr. Kuzmin said Megion city officials ought to improve people’s lives and help them solve their problems, not make excuses. His list consists of 27 forbidden phrases, including “there’s no money”. (BBC News, 9-1-07 ) I eagerly await the news report telling of the city’s response. No word yet.

One Father’s Day, I zeroed in on the men in the church I pastor with a subject entitled “How To Be A Real Man.” My conclusion was that “taking responsibility” was the surest way to be a real man. Among other things, I reminded them,

“Responsibility means accountability. Once a man accepts responsibility, he must commit time, money, energy. Once he accepts responsibility, he puts his reputation on the line. Once he accepts responsibility, he opens himself up for criticism.

“Here are the fundamental truths about men taking responsibility: I alone will be held accountable. I must not expect nor must I allow anyone else to do what I alone am supposed to do. I would rather fail in an honest attempt to take care of my responsibility, than fail to take responsibility. I am willing to be the most influential man in the life of my family.”

“Real men learn how to live in the real world. That means living within the parameters in which actions count. When real men make mistakes, they accept the punishment and consequences that come to them. In this way, they teach justice, truth and peace to those they serve. This also becomes a de facto method to condemn lying, fraud, violence, disrespect, hatred and other sins or vices.

There are false ways of taking responsibility: Arrogance. “I am the head of the house!” Stupidity. “Shut up and listen to me!” Anger. “I’ll teach you to never do that again!” None of these work and they do not yield legitimate authority. All attempts to take responsibility will fail if a man is not under God’s authority. When a man’s family sees that he is doing God’s will, they are far more likely to accept his authority over them.

Many reasons exist that explain why leaders do not get the job done. It could be pure laziness or indifference, or it might be that the circumstances are not right. I suspect the real reason underlying most failures, however, is a sense of inadequacy, that they just cannot make it happen. Excuses serve as a thin veneer separating them from responsibility.

Admit, don’t deny failure. If something exists within the realm of possibility, find a way to do it. Even if you have to let someone else do it for you, get it done. Never become comfortable with your excuses. Abhor them. The better you treat excuses, the longer they and their buddies will hang around.