| Personal Responsibility| | Gen /200: Foundation for General Education and Professional Success| | Personal Responsibility| | Gen /200: Foundation for General Education and Professional Success| University of Phoenix February 20, 2012 Authored by: Renee Jackson University of Phoenix February 20, 2012 Authored by: Renee Jackson Personal Responsibility is something many of us will either run from or accept. According to Kimberly Alyn (2010), “ Personal Responsibility is becoming more and more scarce in our society.
People want to blame everyone else for everything that goes wrong…. creating a lack of trust …. as well as lack of respect” (p. 76). It is also has the power to change the lives of others as well as our own. However, one important fact about personal responsibility, we must be willing to accept the consequences that go along with our decision to either blame others for our actions or we can accept them. When I was reading my morning devotion by Joyce Myers (2012), she stated, “ You can be filled with pity or full of power.
Stop blaming others and start taking responsibility for you/our actions/behavior. ” This statement speaks volumes on just how many of us will either blame others for our actions; or accept responsibility and the consequences as the result of what we have done and learn from them. For example, when I decided to return to school to make a career change, I considered the consequences and impact it would have on both me and my family. I had to accept the challenge of evoting the time to complete every assignment in a timely manner, logging on to participate in the discussion questions, and making sure that the work submitted is acceptable. I made decided not to give up no matter how challenging it became. This is the attitude I had to develop that will ensure and determine my success in completing this goal. Prior to starting class at the University, I received phone calls from my academic, enrollment and financial advisors who all touched basis on what my responsibilities as a student would be.
They also stressed the importance of informing them immediately if there were any problems which would stand in my way of successfully completing my academic responsibilities. Once I started class, one of our assignments was to write a paper on personal responsibility. After starting to write the paper, I noticed the name of the course corresponded with the name of the paper. Ironically the name of my first course was entitled Foundation for General Education and Professional Success.
Over the course of five weeks, the instructor would ask us a series of discussion questions that would focused on the different aspect of personal responsibility and the major role it would play in both our academic and professional lives. For example, one my classmates touched basis on the saying, “ It’s not what you know, but who you know in the corporate world that will determine your advancement”. Sadly enough, there are people who have advanced up the corporate ladder that way. The one’s who hire them are not aware of the consequences of having someone who’s not professionally competent in a position.
It end result can be detrimental on the company, co-workers and everyone involved. In the end, I learned that a person’s level of ethical standards will determine their success in both areas and they both go hand-in-hand. No one can achieve professional competence without achieving academic success. Another quote that I love by Joyce Myers (2012) states, “ You can make yourself accountable or you will be made accountable by the circumstances you create. ” There are consequences for every decision we make, whether it is good or bad.
It is those decisions, whether we chose to accept the consequences or not which will have an impact on those around us. In an article featured in The Journal of Business Ethics by Professor Simon Robinson entitled The Nature of Responsibility in a Professional Setting (2009), Professor Robinson described Imputability, as “ Actions can be attributed to a person…. responsible for those actions and decisions that led to them”(p. 11). For example, we have been assigned to teams to complete a class project. This calls for everyone’s participation.
However, as much as we want to think differently, the reality is that not everyone will be willing to participate in the assignment, whether it is fully or 50% of the time, or they are will not give 100% toward the assignment. Sadly, this is something the group must deal with and as a result, suffer the consequences from it. According to a survey done by Eric L. Dey and Associates, “ Students, faculty, administrators and student affairs staff on 23 campuses believe that personal and social responsibility should be a major focus of attention…. ” (p. 3).
This also brings to mind another importance point our instructor brought out in our discussion was the importance of applying critical thinking when making a decision. Through using this method, one is able to take in consideration not only the problem, but those involved; they will also consult with others in order get a different perspective on how others would solve the issue; and as a result you’re able to reach a resolution that is both ethical and just. The result could range from the group getting a lesser grade than what they would have gotten if everyone participated fully or the nonparticipant could be asked to leave the class.
Either way, both parties will suffer. Whether we want to accept responsibility for our actions/decisions or not, we must realize that whether they are good or bad, we will be held accountable and it does affect those around us. The best ways to overcome our fear of personal responsibility is to: 1. Take the time to weigh the consequence our actions will cause. This can be obtained by applying critical thinking to the process. 2. After weighing the options, talk to those who will be impacted and inform them what will happen once the decision has been made.
And never be afraid to seek the opinion of others. 3. You should make sure provisions have been made in order to be successful in whatever we decide to do. Whether it’s through going back to school, attending seminars or constantly reading the new updated procedures and regulations that are provided. Personal responsibility is and will always play a vital part in our lives. However, it is how we accept and act that will determine the level of trust people place in us, but also show the type of person we are. Works Cited Alyn, K. (2010). Reigniting Responsibility. Fire Service Leadership, 76-78.
Retrieved from http://www. Firehouse. com In this article, the author describes the consequences when firefighters chose to hide behind the union in order to escape punishment for their actions. She also shows the affects this can have on the community as a whole. Schneider, G. H. , Hersh, R. H. (2005). Fostering Personal and Social Responsibility. Liberal Education, 6-13. Retrieved from http://ehis. ebscohost. com/eds This article discusses how through teaching individuals the fundamentals of personal responsibility, they’re able to understand their role in society.
Robinson, S. (2009). The Nature of Responisbility in a Professional Setting. Journal of Business Ethics, 11-19. Retrieved from http://ehis. ebscohost. com/eds The author in this article describes three phases of personal responsibility, but also the differences of each of them. Myer, J. (2012, January). Joyce Myer Ministries. Retrieved from www. joycemyer. org These are quotes from Joyc Myer’s lessons on Responsibility and the character that one can develop/display. Dey, Eric L. (2008).
Sould Colleges Forcus More on Personal and Social Responsibility A survey was done to determine how important personal and social responsibility is to colleges and universities. CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY I certify that the attached paper is my original work. I am familiar with, and acknowledge my responsibilities which are part of, the University of Phoenix Student Code of Academic Integrity. I affirm that any section of the paper which has been submitted previously is attributed and cited as such, and that this paper has not been submitted by anyone else.
I have identified the sources of all information whether quoted verbatim or paraphrased, all images, and all quotations with citations and reference listings. Along with citations and reference listings, I have used quotation marks to identify quotations of fewer than 40 words and have used block indentation for quotations of 40 or more words. Nothing in this assignment violates copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property laws. I further agree that my name typed on the line below is intended to have, and shall have, the same validity as my handwritten signature. Student’s signature: Renee Jackson
