Comments on: No Excuses = Real Leadership

By: Chapp Jonathan

Chapp Jonathan — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:43:00 +0000

Thanks Mike. To me, John Wooden simply means that excuses are out dated.

By: Mike Myatt

Mike Myatt — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:11:00 +0000

Thanks Devan.

By: Mike Myatt

Mike Myatt — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:11:00 +0000

In reply to Stephen Jeffers. My pleasure Stephen. Thanks for stopping by.

By: LC

LC — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:46:00 +0000

Thanks for the article Mike!

As for John Wooden’s quote, I believe it is:
“Never make excuses. Your friends [don’t need] them and your
foes won’t believe them.”

By: Stephen Jeffers

Stephen Jeffers — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 05:43:00 +0000

Nice post Mike. We have a quote up in our locker room that I find relevant that says, “Don’t make excuses, make plays.” People often worry about the problem at hand and focus on the negatives instead of the positives. Also, loved the John Wooden quote. Thank you for sharing.

By: Mike Myatt

Mike Myatt — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:29:00 +0000

In reply to Tina Crouse.

Hi Tina:

While I appreciate your thoughts, I find them to be a bit off the mark. A “reason” is a statement of reality offered in earnest and good faith. An “excuse” is a substitute offered in the absence of a reason to deflect, conceal, rationalize, justify, or blame – the two should not be confused. To make the leap because one doesn’t accept an excuse they would therefore demean and bully others is quite a stretch as well. There are many who don’t accept excuses, but care enough to use the presenting of one as a teaching moment or development opportunity. Performance is clearly not the only measure, but it is certainly an important one. Even more to the point, when a lack of performance exists, whether one offers reasons or excuses is a window into the character of a person which astute leaders pay close attention to. Thanks for sharing Tina.

By: Tina Crouse

Tina Crouse — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:31:00 +0000

In reading this, I felt that you flip-flopped on what you were presenting. Leaders who refuse to accept the reasons why things fail call them ‘excuses’ and bully and demean people for their imperfections. Accepting responsibility for your team would be the opposite of naming excuses. Also I find the attitude of ‘never make excuses’ dehumanizing and old school. I too believe leadership comes from looking at the failures and the failings and improving on them but you must first name them. And pretending to take responsibility (I/My team failed to complete this) is not the same as reviewing who/what/where and when did WE miss something.
Life happens; our response to life defines us as human beings and leaders. Performance as the only ‘measure of the man’ is over-rated.

By: Mike Myatt

Mike Myatt — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:58:00 +0000

In reply to Ramani N Iyer. Thanks for your thoughts Ramani.

By: Ramani N Iyer

Ramani N Iyer — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 06:58:00 +0000

In reply to Mike Myatt. Terrfice Post Mike, I competely agree as a leader one should never exhibit excuse nor aceept excuse. Excuse has no place in our Life. It is better to travel well than to arrive."-Gautama Buddha

By: Mike Myatt

Mike Myatt — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 18:27:00 +0000

In reply to Lisa Rae Preston. My pleasure Lisa. Thanks for sharing.