“Lorraine, can you tell me why you Africans are so comfortable hiding behind excuses?”. This is a question an HR acquaintance of mine asked me once. It reminded me of a case I witnessed.
It was about this fellow African colleague who had an issue with his work permit. Basically, his work permit was expired, and our employer had forgotten to apply for its renewal.
Instead of being on the employer’s arse every single day, he came to me. As he complained about it. Behind such complain, I assumed he needed help. I made such assumption because I knew there was a language barrier between him and the HR department.
Based on that, I failed to look back at certain aspects.
- This wasn’t the first time his work permit had to be renewed and the employer had forgotten – he had weathered that storm before
- Whilst working with an NGO who specializes in helping African migrant, I was conditioned to provide help without even realizing
- Having dealt with several members of the African community, I lost sight of a major issue I was used to facing – laziness and excuses
Yes, excuses. I despise making it seem as a generality, but I must say I have seen it very much within the African community. Too much, in my opinion. But hey, I am probably biased.
As people, we are likely hide behind fallacious excuses to justify our actions or inactions. Employees are people. So are entrepreneurs. In every step of the way, we might be tempted to use excuses as a shield for many things…
I, too, am guilty of that. And I have witness other people falling into that trap. Here are some excuses I often hear from the African community. I also used some of them. And maybe you’ve hidden behind them too 😉
Here are some of the excuses.
“Our poverty was and is still caused by our colonizers”. OK, now what?! Leave the past in the past. How do you work for you not to be poor anymore?
“I didn’t get the job because I am dark skinned”. It could be true. However, could it also be because you actually didn’t have what they were looking for? Once your application was denied, did you ask them how you could improve? Did you work on actually improving?
“I cannot succeed because I didn’t study”. Fotso Victor and many others would beg to differ. Want to be a genius, and succeed? Work hard on it. Don’t give up.
“Foreign people in our countries have stolen our jobs”… Excuse-me?! So a person who doesn’t speak your language and with few connections in your country has managed to steal your job?! What does that say about you?
“I’ll only succeed if I ask a sorcerer or witchcraft performer to workout some rites on my behalf.” Why do have to make your success depend on someone else? Can’t you put in the hard work and be better?!
Let me just stop there. For now, at least.
How do I categorize some of those excuses?
Maybe it’s telling ourselves that we don’t have enough time or resources, or that the task is too difficult or not our responsibility. I place such reasons in different categories. Such as:
- Wrong mindset – for example: fear, intimidation, limiting beliefs, lack of intimidation, laziness, task is too difficult, etc.
- Lack of resources – for example: no resources, lack of time, lack of knowledge, no know-how, task is not our responsibility, etc.
- Environment – for example: no support from loved ones, corruption, untrustworthiness, odds are stacked against us, etc.
A pattern I noticed is that most of us tend to blame external factors, like a lack of time or support, than to acknowledge our own role in our successes or failures. By making excuses, we can shift the blame and avoid accountability.
Whatever the excuse, it allows us to stay in our comfort zone and avoid taking risks or facing the consequences of our actions. All in the sake of avoiding doing something we may need, and / or justifying our inaction / mistakes.
But why do we do it? And more importantly, how can we stop?
Why do Africans like hiding behind excuses ?
Hiding behind excuses is a common coping mechanism, but it’s not a healthy or effective one. Excuses may provide temporary relief, but they ultimately prevent us from achieving our goals and living up to our full potential.
Here are some of the ways that hiding behind excuses can hold us back:
- It keeps us stuck in our comfort zone.
When we make excuses for why we can’t do something, we’re really just saying that we’re not willing to step outside of our comfort zone.
We’re afraid of the unknown, and we’d rather stay in familiar territory than risk failure or embarrassment. But growth and progress require us to push past our boundaries and try new things.
By hiding behind excuses, we’re limiting ourselves and missing out on opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- It prevents us from learning and improving.
When we make excuses for our failures or shortcomings, we’re not taking responsibility for our mistakes.
We’re deflecting blame and refusing to learn from our experiences. But growth and improvement require us to acknowledge our mistakes and take steps to correct them.
By hiding behind excuses, we’re denying ourselves the chance to learn and grow from our failures.
- It damages our relationships and reputation.
When we make excuses for why we can’t meet our commitments or fulfill our obligations, we’re letting down the people who depend on us. Whether it’s a boss, a friend, or a family member, our excuses can erode trust and damage our relationships.
We may also develop a reputation as someone who can’t be counted on or who avoids taking responsibility. This can have long-term consequences for our personal and professional lives.
So… can we stop hiding behind excuses?
How can we stop hiding behind excuses and start taking action? Here are a few tips:
- Be honest with yourself.
Recognize when you’re making excuses and why. Are you afraid of failure? Do you lack confidence in your abilities?
Once you understand the root of your excuses, you can start to address them, divorce from them and overcome them.
- Take small steps.
Don’t try to tackle everything at once. Instead, break your goals down into smaller, more manageable tasks. This can help you build momentum and gain confidence as you make progress.
Keep in mind that every journey starts with a single step. Commit yourself to taking a step at a time, and master it. Do not rely on people – not even on your spiritual leaders. Even God blesses faith in action.
- Hold yourself accountable.
Set deadlines and track your progress. Don’t make excuses for missed deadlines or unfinished work.
Instead, take responsibility and make a plan to get back on track.
- Surround yourself with supportive people.
Find people who believe in you and can offer encouragement and support. Having a network of positive influences can help you stay motivated and focused.
The environment and the people surrounding you can play a crucial role. Leverage both for optimal results ;).
TLDR?
While excuses may provide temporary relief from discomfort or protect our self-esteem, they ultimately prevent us from reaching our full potential and living a fulfilling life. When we constantly make excuses, we limit ourselves and our opportunities for growth and learning.
One reason we make excuses is to protect our self-esteem. When we fail or fall short of our goals, it can be a blow to our confidence and sense of competence. By making excuses, we can avoid admitting to ourselves (and others) that we are not as capable or successful as we would like to be.
Another reason we make excuses is to avoid taking responsibility. It’s easier to blame external factors, like a lack of time or support, than to acknowledge our own role in our successes or failures. By making excuses, we can shift the blame and avoid accountability.
Finally, we make excuses because they allow us to avoid discomfort or pain. Whether it’s physical discomfort (like exercise or healthy eating) or emotional discomfort (like having a difficult conversation or facing rejection), excuses give us a way out of situations that we perceive as unpleasant or risky.
By being honest with ourselves, taking small steps, holding ourselves accountable, and surrounding ourselves with supportive people, we can overcome our excuses and start taking action towards our goals.
As this post is coming to an end, may I ask your opinion: do you think people like hiding behind excuses? How would you advise someone to stop hiding behind excuses ? Please feel free to share your views. I’d love to read your thoughts over the comment sections.
This post was about how we Africans can stop hiding behind excuses… Feel free to comment and share.
Nota Bene:
Regarding my colleague, I advised him to behave like the widow, in the parable of the widow and the evil judge. His permit was eventually issued.