Who really wants to be held accountable anyway? Sure, many of us say we do until...it actually happens. Our boss calls us out on a missed deadline. Our friend remembers the promise we made and gently (of course) reminds us.
Accountability is hard.
I observed under performing members of a sales team last week create a near mutiny with their management team. Their results had been poor for months. This was after a week long training session, daily direction and encouragement from management and added tools for success. The claim from these team members was that they were missing one item of which the top salesperson on the team had "control" - a sales presentation that was yielding tremendous results. What they failed to recognize is that this same top salesperson also consistently displays an exceptional work ethic, tireless commitment, persistence and drive. The under performing members wanted the magic bullet when really there's a success formula they are failing to implement. Even with the superior sales presentation these members would likely still fall short without the drive and work ethic of the top salesperson.
It's easy for us all to go into blame when we're not achieving results - personally or professionally. Why hold yourself accountable or allow someone else to when you can blame an event or another person? And truthfully, most people are surrounded by enablers who will accept your excuses and allow you to continue to under perform or fail. Your co-worker who believes that because the printer was broken and that's why you couldn't complete an assignment.
Nonsense!
If you want to be a leader you must hold yourself accountable first. You must get rid of excuses and blame.
If you are a leader of a team you cannot accept blame and excuses within your team.
Don't be an enabler of under performance. Great news is that accountability can be learned. Accountability can be practiced. Accountability can be measured. And in the end, accountability can be fun when you start to achieve the results you deserve. One way to get more accountable is to get a coach...
TAKE ACTION NOW!
- In what areas of your professional, educational or personal life do you need to hold yourself more accountable?
- or what are you blaming for missed results? Another person? An event or circumstance? Yourself? When you are blaming you are losing
- In what ways can you practice accountability? In what ways do you measure your own accountability? Can you partner with someone whereby you hold each other accountable?
- What resources can you invest in or leverage to increase your personal accountability (i.e. a class on time management)
- Need help, feedback or just want to share? Connect with us using any of the contact methods listed at the top left section of this page.
2 comments:
Nice post. In my view one reason why "accountability stinks" is because we have it conflated with blame. Managers in organizations "hold others accountable," which too often means blaming them for failures. This goes directly to your point that the leader must hold him or herself accountable first, foremost, and only.
Accountability is a choice. It is internally generated - i.e., people are accountable or they're not. You can no more "hold someone accountable" than you can think their thoughts for them.
Johnathan - thanks for reading the post and commenting. I totally agree that a leader must hold him or herself accountable first and foremost and that accountability is a choice.
I would also say that it is possible to hold another accountable. Assuming, of course, the person wants to be held accountable in the 1st place. You can partner with another to help keep you on track.
Thanks again for stopping by and taking time to comment!
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