Let’s open this week’s blog with a series of questions about accountability, that we encourage you to think about.

• What does accountability mean to you?

• What does it look like to be accountable?

• What are the results of low accountability?

• How do we hold ourselves and others accountable?

• How do we create and maintain a culture of accountability?

According to Investopedia, “Accountability is the practice of being held to a certain standard of excellence. It is the idea that an individual is responsible for their actions and, if that individual chooses unfavorable actions, they will face consequences. Accountability, strives to promote a high level of work, promote honesty, encourage dependability and garner trust from individuals around you.” To build a sense of accountability a few ingredients are necessary. Creating honest and respectful relationships, setting clear expectations, providing tools and experiences for success, encouraging diverse thinking, taking ownership and creating a communication rich environment.

There are benefits of holding ourselves accountable.

• Greater self-awareness.

• Better goal setting.

• Growth mindset.

• Increased self-confidence.

• More motivation. (source: Maggie Wool)

What is the recipe to enhance our personal accountability?
Start with the following ingredients.

• 2 cups of SMART goals.

• A pinch of starting small.

• 2 Tbsp of creating a schedule for you to follow.

• 1 cup of rewarding yourself and others.

• ½ cup of an accountable partner who can be honest with you and you with them.

Mix these ingredients together and enjoy the outcome.

These ingredients are not easily found in a grocery store, but rather take time to develop. Just like a good loaf of bread requires time in the proofing box to fully develop we too need time and experience to develop our personal accountability skills.

What does the lack of accountability look like in the workplace?

• Low quality of work.

• Inefficiency and decreased productivity.

• Decreased employee engagement.

• Low morale.

• High employee turnover.

Ways to solve a lack of accountability in the workplace.

• Set clear expectations and goals.

• Hold yourself accountable first.

• Have difficult conversations with employees.

• Act promptly.

• Collaborate and listen to employees. (source: Pareto Labs)

Reaching a level of enhanced accountability, both in our personal and professional lives, can encourage others to invest and move forward.

Key Takeaways

• There is both personal and workplace accountability.

• The ingredients of accountability need to be developed.

• Accountability is an ongoing process; it does not end with the completion of a task.

Best Practices

• Take periodic breaks to think about your own level of accountability.

• Develop work quality standards.

• Further develop personal and professional relationships.

Things to Limit

• Blaming others.

• Finger pointing.

• Not taking responsibility for your actions.

Holding ourselves and others accountable, with energy rich endeavors, creates an environment of accomplishment and engagement which adds to the quality of our lives.