The Buck Stops There

"The Buck Stops Here." It’s an idiom that rolled out of poker saloons in the Old West and eventually landed on President Harry S. Truman's desk.

It's one of those universally insightful sayings that’s wormed its way into our collective psyche.

Likewise, I could've kicked off with "On The Hook", conjuring the grisly image of an expiring fish, "carrying the can", "taking the fall," or my personal favorite "catching a hospital pass."

The popularity of these idioms speaks volumes about our endless fascination with the blame game.

This obsession is everywhere you look, not least in the spectacular aftermath of a failed political assassination, or the spectacular aftermath of a 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euros final.

Closer to home, in the snug comfort of our living rooms we will watch a crime drama and find ourselves fixated on the question, "Whodunit?"

We all know that burning flash of indignation when someone else snags credit for our brilliant idea.

Conversely, the anger when the finger of blame points unfairly in your direction is uniquely electrifying.

Life can sometimes feel like a twisted and kafkaesque game of hot potato with responsibility as the spud.

Our relationship with responsibility is complicated. Consider the bystander effect: a psychological phenomenon where the presence of others makes us less likely to step in during an emergency. It’s the ultimate “not my problem” mentality in action, and it highlights how slippery our grip on accountability can be when the chips are down.

In the professional arena, the stakes are just as high. Employees often have to juggle the delicate act of following orders while still holding onto a shred of personal accountability.?

Then there’s the power dynamic of credentials. We look to doctors, lawyers, and yes, even adland professionals, to bear mantles of responsibility thanks to their specialized knowledge. With great power, as Uncle Ben (the uncle of spiderman, not the politically incorrect brand mascot) reminds us, comes great responsibility.

Perhaps the most intriguing (and infuriating) aspect is how responsibility gets passed around.

In politics and corporate boardrooms, we often see elaborate ritualized blame-shifting and buck-passing. This avoidance dance can have far-reaching consequences, eroding trust in institutions and individuals alike.

Yet, for all our dodges and deflections, responsibility is a cornerstone of human interaction and personal growth. Embracing it by owning up to our actions, our words, and our impact on others - is crucial for building trust, fostering accountability, and driving positive change.

By declaring that "The Buck Stops Here," we take control of our fortunes rather than being buffeted by them. After all, in the grand poker game of life, it's better to play your hand than to keep passing the buck.

In a world where it’s all too easy to point fingers or stay on the sidelines, maybe we should all take a page from Truman’s playbook?