Who has the buck?
Harry Truman knew it. The guy in charge is responsible. It matters little if it’s an international corporation or a small woodworking shop or a truck out on the road. When something goes awry or fails, the guy in charge has to shoulder the responsibility.
Harry Truman knew it. The guy in charge is responsible. It matters little if it’s an international corporation or a small woodworking shop or a truck out on the road. When something goes awry or fails, the guy in charge has to shoulder the responsibility.
Fate can play a part for certain. If a tire blows at 60 miles an hour, is the driver responsible for the ensuing crash? Maybe. Maybe the driver should have known how to keep the car under control and stop safely. That could be argued.
And it’s easy to pass the buck. You can blame your foreman or, if you are the foreman, you can blame the guys working under your supervision. Maybe they didn’t follow your instructions. Or maybe you did not make your instructions clear enough.
One thing is certain. You will not gain the respect of either your customers, your employees or yourself by refusing to take responsibility when problems arise. You have to carry the weight.
Sorry, but it’s part of the job.
D.D.
David DeCristoforo possesses an extensive resume as designer/maker of fine furniture, high-end cabinetry and architectural woodwork. His experience in professional woodworking spans a period of 35 years. For the past 20 years David DeCristoforo Design has been located in Woodland, California. During this time David's shop has ranged in scope from a "full on" cabinet production shop with as many as 15 employees to a small fine furniture and custom millwork shop, working with his son, David RBJ, a highly skilled maker in his own right.