It's Your Move: The First Step to Accountability

Every place I go, if I’m in an organization long enough, I’ll hear people lament about the lack of accountability. Specifically, I hear things like: “They just don’t seem to care enough, I guess.” “Those action items never get done – I don’t know why we even identify them.” “I have trouble getting people to be committed to achieving the things they are responsible for.” “Everyone wants to blame someone else – it is never their responsibility.”

These comments come from every level, and they are referring to people both above them organizationally, as well as those that may work for them. In other words the concern is widespread and includes everyone.

People are concerned because a lack of accountability is frustrating, but they also know that tremendous productivity and efficiencies can be gained when more people are accountable for completing their tasks, commitments and expectations.

Accountability is an important thing.

Unfortunately, inherent in most all of the comments above and in the many conversations I’ve had is that people think the accountability gap is about someone else. “They” aren’t accountable. “They” need to improve. The focus is on fixing the behavior of others.

While this might be true, this is the wrong place to put the focus, at least at first.

Take a Look in the Mirror

If you want greater accountability around you, start by being more accountable yourself. Before you tune me out, I know what some of you are thinking…

“I’m just a middle manager – it’s not my responsibility.”

“I’m just a supervisor - I can’t change it.”

“I’m nobody – it doesn’t matter what I do.”

Maybe you are in one of these roles. Or maybe you are a senior leader, or the CEO. It doesn’t matter what your role is or how long you have been in the organization. Let me say it again.

If you want greater accountability around you, start by being more accountable yourself.

If you want to engender and create greater accountability in those around you, you can start by being a good role model. You can be 100% accountable yourself.

I’m reminded of what my father often told me: “When you point a finger towards someone else there are four times as many fingers pointing back at you.”

Being accountable is about figuring out how you can make things better. Other people’s actions aren’t in your control, and many events aren’t in your control either, but your response to these situations and events is completely in your control. You can choose to be 100% accountable and responsible for your response.

Some Questions

While thinking about the challenges you face with accountability in your organization, ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my role in this situation?

• What am I doing (or not doing) to promote the situation as it currently exists?

• What about this situation is in my control?

• What am I thinking?

• What are my beliefs?

• What can I do to have an impact?

• What can I do differently to change the result?

Asking these questions takes courage, because it takes away your ability to blame others. Asking these questions may be a change of your habits. Asking these questions may be hard, because the answers may require work.

Courageous and difficult, perhaps, but these are the questions of a 100% accountable person. Your unique answers to these questions will allow you to take the first step towards greater accountability first and foremost for yourself; as well as in those around you and in your organization at large.