What is Responsibility?
In chapter 2 of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct written by the Project Management Institute (PMI), they defined responsibility as "our duty to take ownership for the decisions we make or fail to make, the actions we take or fail to take, and the consequences that result." (PMI, n.d., p. 2) Responsibility and accountability go hand-in-hand in the workplace. Responsibility is holding an individual or department accountable for carrying out tasks--rewarding and praising them for a job well done, and investigating and coaching if the task was not completed to its entirety.
Responsibility in Leadership
As I have learned about leadership, responsibility is a big part of leadership. Responsibility, to me, is about combining honesty and integrity, then putting action behind the words. It's about being able to admit when I don't know the answers to something, and then working with that individual to find them by asking the right people the right questions. Further, being responsible, also, means communicating when I have made a mistake rather than letting it "slip under the rug." It is being able to be held responsible for the decisions I make and actions I take even if it ends with negative results. Then, dealing with the positive or negative consequences to that decision or action.
Artifact
The artifact I have chosen that demonstrates responsibility is from my OGL 340 - Digital Citizenship course instructed by Christopher Glover. In this course, we explored concepts like community, citizenship, online presence, and identity in digital spaces. In my Write-Up 1 assignment, I talk about the responsibilities in a digital environment as well as citizenship; however, I use these concepts in real life as well as in a digital space.
Reflection
Project Management & Organizational Leadership
Responsibility in project management and leadership means taking full responsibility for my words as well as my actions. As a leader, I have learned that you are always on a stage. There will always be eyes on the leader, so the responsibility is on the leader to, first and foremost, model the way for team members. In a leadership role, the leader is also responsible for making decisions in the best interest of the organization as a whole--this include the team members. If the leader makes a decision that negatively affects the team members, it is his or her responsibility to own up to their mistakes and take the necessary steps to correct the action.
Personal Growth & Development
I was fortunate enough to have parents who instilled responsibility into me and my brother from a very young age. From the time I was a toddler, if I made a mess, I was the one responsible to clean it up. If I made a mistake, I had to "suffer the consequences." This has helped my personal life by being responsible to get the things done I tell people I am going to do when I say they will be done. I hold myself accountable for my own actions. When people see me being responsible, they often times extend new opportunities for greater responsibilites. Responsibility builds trust to form new professional relationships off of.
Reference: Code of ethics & professional conduct - project management institute. Project Management Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved April 26, 2023, from https://www.pmi.org/codeofethics
