But I don’t have the authority…

That’s what I hear in most of my middle management [and even senior management] workshops… that’s what I hear in coaching conversation… that’s what I hear in various family and friends’ conversations…

“I don’t have any authority.”

I know, it’s so frustrating not being able to control people or have authority to drive things…

But then… there’s the other side of the picture.

If you have the control and the authority… you have responsibility as part of the package.

When you a free to choose, imagine the burden on taking the responsibility of that choice.

I see managers collapsing after their promotion.

I see young people getting clueless after they enter a family commitment…

We must change the conversation.

We must change our focus… at least that’s what I think.

We must focus on responsibility [and preparing for it] before dreaming about authority.

We must focus on responsibility [and practicing in our little ways] before demanding our rights.