Is your finger pointing in the right direction?

“Why can’t my team hire and retain talent?

You are asking the right question…are you looking for the answer in the right spot?

Every so often a leader comes along with a message that grips the hearts and minds of the people with its power and simplicity. He or she becomes immortalized in the annals of history and is forever quoted at graduations and other such ceremonies.

Who can forget Reagan saying: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” or Winston Churchill advising the audience to “Never, never, never give up.” Or how about FDR’s “date which will live in infamy?”

The leader I have in mind today is President Harry Truman and his famous phrase: "The Buck Stops Here!"

“The greatest part of the President’s job is to make decisions—big ones and small ones, dozens of them almost every day. The papers may circulate around the Government for a while but they finally reach this desk. And then, there’s no place else for them to go. The President—whoever he is—has to decide. He can’t pass the buck to anybody. No one else can do the deciding for him. That’s his job.”

President Harry Truman

Farewell Address January 15, 1953

The Buck Stops Here

The message Harry Truman took as his mantra rooted deep into the heart of the American people for a reason!

In the middle of a seemingly unending war, with millions of people dying, the world was looking for leadership, inspiration, and strength. Here came a man who understood the need for leadership, responsibility, and the courage to face the consequences. The American people responded to this idea that Truman was a leader who would both accept his responsibilities and do his best to change the future for the better. He would replace excuses with accountability and hand-wringing with action.

President Truman came into the presidency at a very critical moment for the people of the United States. Former president Franklin Roosevelt was dead, the war was not progressing well in Japan, soldiers were dying, and many difficult decisions lay ahead.

Truman liked to convey the message that he understood that the ultimate responsibility for the actions of the government rested with him, the Head Honcho and Commander in Chief.

In fact, Truman used this phrase so often that a friend commissioned a sign to be engraved for him while he was in office. The plaque bearing the message “The Buck Stops Here” sat on Truman’s desk in the oval office throughout his entire presidency. He frequently referred to it in public speeches, forever popularizing its “Personal Responsibility” affirming refrain for posterity.

The Buck Stops with You!

This is a message I want to bring to you as leaders today: Your team is looking to you for inspiration, responsibility, and courage to face the consequences! Nothing gets fixed that’s someone else’s fault, right? What if as a leader, you take “The Buck Stops Here” as your personal mantra? What if instead of asking “why can’t we hire/retain…” you act on the belief that:

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• It is MY job as a leader to paint the picture of Right People Right Seat.
• It is MY job as a leader to create structure.
• It is MY job as a leadership team to know where to source candidates.
• It is MY job as a leadership team to "use science" in selecting people.
• It is MY job as a leadership team to have a great interview process.
• It is MY job as a leadership team to have a great onboarding process.
• It is MY job as a leadership team to create clear expectations.
• It is MY job as a leadership team to celebrate, reward, and recognize achievements of our team.
• It is MY job as a leadership team to keep great people

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How will these beliefs transform your company, your culture, and your team today?

President Harry Truman had this right: Those who are willing to accept responsibility for the outcome of decisions have the power to change the world!

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