Accountability \u2013 What Does it Really Mean?<\/h2>\n

Accountability<\/em>. It\u2019s a great word, but it\u2019s being used in so many different ways that the word is no longer clear enough to stand on its own.<\/p>\n

Accountability has emerged as a flexible concept that is used in a myriad of ways today. For instance\u2026 lack of accountability is used by many as the reason for a perceived decline in morality in our great country. Alternatively, you may wish your organization was more accountable – or that the people in it were. Maybe you are even working on trying to be more accountable yourself.<\/p>\n

Accountability is almost always used as a description to a problem. And problems are made to be solved! But before we start solving the latest accountability problem, let\u2019s peel the onion back a layer and be more specific about the problem we need to solve.<\/p>\n

An accountability issue could mean any of the following:<\/h3>\n

\n
1. Accountability processes.<\/strong> Are the alignment processes in place to convey expectations and track fulfillment? Strategic planning, goal-setting, business planning, performance management – do they exist and are they alive<\/em>? Do they help highlight the good as well as the bad?<\/li>\n
2. Organizational accountability.<\/strong> Is the organization accountable to external stakeholders? To internal stakeholders? Is it clear on the employee value proposition and the customer value proposition? Does it meet the expectations it sets? Has it lived up to the implied commitments it makes in managing its brand?<\/li>\n
3. Personal accountability.<\/strong> Are people in the organization accountable at an individual level? Do they take responsibility for outcomes, seek to clarify expectations, and accept consequences (good or bad)? Are they accountable in their personal lives?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

   When you say that there is an accountability problem, be clear about exactly<\/em> what you think is lacking.<\/p>\n

   If personal accountability is on the list, then that\u2019s the first<\/em> place to start. As you might suspect, it\u2019s also the hardest<\/em> place to start. It either means that personal accountability is not embedded in your culture – or you don\u2019t have the right people.<\/p>\n

   A high level of organizational accountability is impossible to achieve if personal accountability is lacking.<\/em> Likewise, accountability processes will be unsustainable.<\/p>\n

   If personal accountability is lacking, then ask the following questions:<\/h3>\n

   \n
   • Does leadership demonstrate accountability behaviors?<\/strong> If it doesn\u2019t, then others will notice and either fall in line or leave the organization out of frustration.<\/li>\n
   • Is the culture supportive of personal accountability?<\/strong> Is it safe to make a mistake and own it? Is it safe to accept recognition for success?<\/li>\n
   • Is personal accountability recognized and rewarded?<\/strong> What is the level of accountability for those who are most recognized through promotion, development opportunities, compensation, and awards?<\/li>\n
   • Is accountability accessed during the hiring process?<\/strong> If people aren\u2019t accountable coming in, chances are you will have an uphill battle to convert them later on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     Is accountability important? Yes<\/em>! If your organization has an accountability issue, should it be solved? Yes<\/em>! Just make sure you\u2019re solving the right<\/em> problem. And if personal accountability is part of the problem, start there.<\/p>\n

      <\/p>\n

     Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

     Accountability \u2013 What Does it Really Mean? Accountability. It\u2019s a great word, but it\u2019s being used in so many different ways that the word is no longer clear enough to stand on its own. Accountability has emerged as a flexible concept that is used in a myriad of ways today. For instance\u2026 lack of accountability …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":861,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8,6,9],"tags":[21,99,10,98,97],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=860"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":863,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860\/revisions\/863"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}