Egay Uy .
THE phrase “passing the buck” is an idiomatic expression that refers to the act of attributing to another person or group of persons one’s own responsibility; to shift blame from oneself to others.
Two assistant professors in two different universities, Mary Steffel and Elanor Williams, wrote, “Leaders know all too well that with great power comes great responsibility” – a mantra that has been echoed by luminaries, including Theordore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and even Spiderman.
To paraphrase them, a good leader should primarily own responsibility for making good or bad decisions that will have profound implications for many. Of course, it does not come naturally to many because rather, the natural inclination is often to pass the buck to someone else. Sounds familiar?
They continue to say that “while passing the buck can be an effective means of self-protection, it can be bad news for the people who will be affected.”
US president Harry Truman was said to have alluded to this phenomenon when he said, “The buck stops here.”
Isn’t it best to hear that a leader of an organization does not pass the buck just to save his own behind – for his selfish preservation? As the leader of an organization, he who sits on the topmost post should understand that he is ultimately responsible for any decision, action, or even inaction, by those under him.
His subordinates could pass the buck to him, but there should be no one to whom he may pass the buck. That, to me, is the mark of a true leader because one who passes the buck is a weakling and will never stand the challenges of the times — never.
Applying the principles surrounding “the buck stops here,” the organization’s leader has to own up responsibility – he can’t pass the buck to anybody. The professors say that Truman’s principle applies to heads of organizations – the buck stops at the top.
Organization leaders must be challenged that they will ultimately bear the responsibility and carry the blame for any decision, action, or inaction made by those under them because a good leader encourages his people to face challenging decisions and own up to their mistakes without blaming others – without passing the buck.
“Great leaders don’t need reminding of this in the first place – they recognize that bad decisions will fall on their shoulders, regardless of who makes them. Even greater are those who recognize this sacrifice and seek out that responsibility for the good those who serve them, and those they serve,” the professors said.
(Egay Uy is a lawyer, and he is serving in the city’s Regulatory and Complaints Board, and local price coordinating council.)
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