Have you ever lied to someone because you didn’t want to admit you were wrong? Do other people get to be scapegoats so that you don’t have to admit weakness? Have you ever broken a glass at home, and blamed the dog for being behind you? I have.

I believe there is a problem in our society today where instead of fessing up about being wrong, not knowing how to do something, or admitting a mistake, we blame other people and completely, flat out, lie so we don’t get caught. Most people think that being wrong or not having the knowledge is weakness. It is the proverbial “deer in the headlights” phenomenon. It is such a knee-jerk reaction to lie or to blame, a lot of people don’t even realize they are doing it anymore. It has become truly a habit.

I’m here to tell you, being wrong … is ok. Apologizing because of a mistake, should happen. Admitting that you don’t know how to do something is not a form of weakness. A stronger foundation of trust is built among people who admit when they are wrong. And the thing about mistakes or not having the knowledge, it is good for you. It helps you grow. People never learn if they don’t stumble a little bit. No one is perfect so stop trying to convince others you are. You are not and never will be so it is OK. Be honest. Make mistakes. Admit you are wrong.

The workplace is a huge cesspool of passing the buck. Because of our busy “get it done now” world, the whole “that is not my job” or “I didn’t do it” mentality is basically people not taking on the responsibility they should. Instead of taking the time or learning the things, they lie, blame and PASS THE BUCK.

Have you ever thought about why you might have reacted in a situation or who you threw under the bus? Reflecting on the reasons behind your reactions helps you stay true to yourself and insure you stay accountable especially when you make mistakes. Why did you blame someone else? Is it because you don’t know? Is it because you are wrong and don’t want to admit it because you believe people will think lesser of you? Did you make a mistake and don’t want to get into trouble? Trust me, lying or blaming, instead of taking responsibility makes everything a TON worse. Don’t put yourself in that situation. Not worth it.

You know what, the words “I don’t know,” are OK as long as they are followed by “but I can find out or find someone who does know.” Instead of saying “that’s not my job” or “she was supposed to do that” or “It’s their fault.” Admit when you are wrong. Tell people you don’t know. Say you are sorry, you made a mistake. It will be OK, and you will be a better person because of it. Try hard to take time to answer and think about what you will say before the knee-jerk reaction to throw someone to the curb and divert the problem away from yourself. You are tough and you are accountable. You are being real when the truth is told and people will trust you more for doing it.