The Value Of Accountability

One of the most powerful behaviors in any environment-home, work, school or sports, is gaining accountability. When individuals have a mindset of holding themselves fully accountable AND are willing to work through the conflict of holding others accountable, this can take a team or organization to new levels of performance. It enables a culture to truly adopt its values and behaviors. It maximizes the strength of talent of any team as each member will push others to perform at their best. It also is one of the most key, proven methods to gain appreciation of diversity in any organization and work through biases.

Accountability has multiple dimensions and principles that must be taught and reinforced. There is a culture/chemistry dimension and there is a individual dimension. Both dimensions have behavioral principles that are required to be reinforced, such as dealing with conflict, rewarding accountability moments or showing personal courage to provide feedback and hold someone else accountable.

Don’t just state “we need accountability”. Rather, spend the time to teach, train and show what it means and recognize when you see it.