Falling on your Sword

To Fall on One's Sword - A Disaster Restoration Business Owner's Guide (with Slightly Less Stabbing)

            As I’m sitting in my mid Missouri home office, on this very wet and gloomy Tuesday opening mail with my special envelope opener, a story came to mind.

 The phrase "to fall on one's sword" conjures dramatic images: Roman centurions plunging onto their blades, defeated samurai performing seppuku. It evokes a sense of ultimate sacrifice, a noble taking of the blame in the face of dishonor. But in the bloodless world of business, what does it truly mean to fall on your sword?

Thankfully, for all our sakes, it doesn't involve actual cutlery. In the boardroom, or standing in the warehouse before your Team of dedicated employees delivering a talk, falling on your sword is about accepting responsibility. It's the owner who, faced with a service mishap or a disgruntled customer, takes the hit. It's the CEO who publicly apologizes for a PR blunder, even if the marketing team came up with the, ahem, "exploding glitter bomb" campaign.

Here's the twist: falling on your sword isn't about blind self-flagellation. It's a strategic maneuver, a public display of accountability that can strengthen your company's foundation.

Think of it like this: you walk onto a jobsite to find a customer apoplectic over a paint color chosen by them, but once done the look isn’t what they expected, even though they signed off on the color of choice. You, the owner, have two options:

1. The Ostrich Maneuver: You bury your head in the paperwork they signed before the paint application, mutter something about "buyer error," and hope the angry customer leaves without setting off the sprinklers (because really, what else could go wrong today?).
2. The Sword Fall: You offer a sincere apology, arrange for a partial refund on the paint, the labor charge stays the same and a replacement color paid for by the customer (in a calming shade of beige, perhaps), and throw in a complimentary basket of fruit (because who wouldn't want fruit after a fuchsia fiasco?).

Sure, option two might sting the wallet a bit, but consider the long game. The customer, impressed by your willingness to take responsibility, might become a loyal advocate, singing your praises online and returning for future (hopefully less disastrous) purchases.

Falling on your sword demonstrates to your employees that you have their backs. It fosters a culture of ownership and accountability within your team. After all, it's hard to expect your employees to go the extra mile if you're unwilling to do the same.

But here's the kicker: falling on your sword doesn't mean becoming a human pincushion for every mishap. It's about discerning when taking responsibility strengthens your company, and when it's deflecting blame that should be shouldered elsewhere.

So, the next time disaster strikes your business, remember: a well-timed apology and a commitment to making things right are far more effective (and significantly less messy) than a dramatic sword-based exit. Just, for the love of Pete, keep the glitter bombs off the marketing menu.