By Tom Rhoads, Training Instructor for GRCA
There are many surprising aspects of accountability and with each, we find another key to unlocking human potential. What is not so surprising is that most people think that they are accountable and that others see them as being accountable. As a keynote speaker, accountability is one of the most often requested topics. One way I kick off the topic is by asking audiences to raise their hands if they believe they are highly accountable. And guess what? All hands are in the air. The second question I will ask is for the audience to share what emotion comes to mind when they hear or think of the word accountability. It is usually a heavy feeling and a mix of anger, resentment, “now what?” and the anticipation of a blaming, accusation, finger pointing, dropped ball, etc. And yet, without accountability, there is no progress, no growth, and that feels not so good. So, not surprisingly, we all have a lot at stake with being accountable. Accountability serves all people well, so let’s examine 10 surprising insights about accountability that can unlock your potential in the year ahead.
#1 – Accountability is authorship
For most people, accountability is being responsible—completing tasks or meeting a quota, for example. It is a very narrow framework. The first surprise is that being accountable is expansive and all-inclusive. It is about your authority to create your life, your story, and the results you want to create. You are most accountable to yourself. When you take accountability for your circumstances you take back your authority to create your future. Surprise, you are the author of your life, no one else. Unless you do not take accountability.
#2 – Accountability is about learning
Most people associate accountability as a black-and-white matter of fact, you did something or you didn’t. So, if you did not do something, or did not get the results others expected, then you were not accountable. A far more empowering way of defining accountability is more about being at cause and taking ownership of the results you are committed to producing. The shift in the meaning of accountability is empowering and emphasizes learning. It is not about being perfect and making no mistakes, it is about learning, progress and growth. It is looking at ourselves and within ourselves to find the answers, the adjustments or the shifts. We learn nothing from blaming, rationalizations, justifications and excuses.
“In archery, we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns around and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself.”
— Confucius
# 3 – Accountability includes dreams and aspirations
For students, what are you studying to become? What interests you? Of course, the future is ahead of you and there is an endeavor, organization or role that you are inspired to join or apply to. Or maybe, you don’t know what that calling or next step is; however, each individual has fundamentally their accountability to figure it out and explore possibilities. True, family, friends, teachers, counselors, etc. can be helpful, and invaluable, yet it remains a matter of individual accountability.
#4 – Accountability is integral to several character attributes
Among several character attributes essential to unlocking human potential, organizational development and effective leadership, accountability is unique and central. It is integral and interdependent on other character attributes as well. First among them is humility, as Steven Covey wrote, “Humility is the mother of all virtues.” Others include integrity, intention, courage, persistence (determination) and discipline. Accountability includes our character attributes.
#5 – Accountability requires transparency
Transparency has others see us, hear us, know us and partner with us. Accountability requires partnership and our aspirations, performance and growth are not hidden. They are revealed and visible. That is the only way we learn and grow through feedback and learning with and through others. Accountability in isolation, guarded, undercover, hidden from others is an oxymoron. Hence, goals are declared, made visible and communicated. Advice, feedback and challenges are welcomed. Progress is transparent, as are failures and setbacks are transparent. Transparency builds character and opportunities for shared learning and developing resiliency and innovation.
#6 – Accountability includes emotional agility and requires emotional empowerment
A silly notion is to keep emotions out of work and out of the results we produce. Surprise! Emotions are part of being human, and emotions create necessary actions and sustain accountability. Stoicism doesn’t fuel extraordinary results. Blaming emotions and getting hooked by emotions would be a lack of accountability if nothing is learned, and the patterns that are self-sabotaging persist.
#7 – Accountability feels awesome
When people are being accountable, it feels great. When professionals get a taste of accountability, it becomes clearer when it is missing in a culture, and the most accountable employees may be the first to exit. When accountability is expansively defined and people hold each other accountable, the culture is vibrant, employees are highly engaged and the results of teams are greater than the sum of their parts.
# 8 – Caring people hold themselves and others accountable
If you care about yourself, you take accountability for your circumstances, you get into action. If you care about someone else, you dare to define and distinguish accountability. If you don’t care, you find someone or something to blame, or worse, you ignore it and look the other way. It takes courage to face and address accountability. Accountability is an opportunity in and out of your comfort zone. You must be willing to remove the conditions for which accountability is addressed.
# 9 – Accountability is contagious
Have you noticed that blamers are not very happy people? Accountability grows self-directed behavior, it infuses the ability to gain competence in new endeavors and subjects, it develops adaptive resilience and confidence to weather whatever challenges life brings. It also produces people who are more grateful, appreciative, joyful and hopeful about the future. Accountable people take accountability for their words, language, their self-talk and their “way of being.” You become a delightful presence for yourself and others.
#10 – Accountability changes you
You are learning, embodying learning, evolving, changing and growing. You find abilities today that you did not know you were capable of in the past. You have more versatility in your way of being to be who you need and choose to be. Your way of observing and interpreting life shifts, and the way that you respond to challenges and opportunities serves you and others better. You gain wisdom through experience and learning. When you change, you can grow significantly, and others notice. Your change inspires and evokes excellence in others.