Recently I had the pleasure of ordering something online. This usually painless process ended up requiring a lot more effort in the end than walking myself to Crossgates.
Now, I do understand that every so often a company has difficulty filling the orders they receive and that there might be a bit of a backup at the shipping plant. This is fine. What I do not understand is why those working in the company have to spend as much effort as possible shuffling a customer who is concerned about the several-hundred-dollar investment they have made from one department to another. All I wanted to know was that my baby was okay.
However, this has nothing to do with my new toy at all. What it does, in fact, involve is responsibility. Allow me to climb atop my soapbox for a moment and preach.
When you screw up, it is usually best for all involved if you just admit it. You don’t have to make excuses or try to explain anything; it’s actually better if you don’t. Just own up to your mistake and then work to fix it. It’s not a terribly complicated model.
Granted, you may be dealing with the sort of person who likes to raise his voice and get angry, but concealing a mistake from this person is actually more dangerous than admitting to it. The longer he has to stew over whatever you’ve done, the more irate he will be when you finally reveal your faux pas.
However, this occasionally fiery-tempered individual is most likely the exception rather than the rule. People are, in general, rather forgiving, and may even prove helpful in repairing any damage if you tell them that there’s a problem. This includes needing more time to deliver something, whether it is a paper or a rather expensive toy.
In general, taking responsibility for your actions in a timely fashion will reduce your own stress and that of others involved, which makes the situation far easier to deal with.
Finally, if you do accept responsibility for your actions, please realize the entire world isn’t under your control. You can’t possibly be responsible for everything that goes wrong with it.
And now I shall step down from this soapbox. Here’s hoping my toy actually arrives in one piece—being able to track it is so nice!
