It is often said that success is a process. One of the things required for the process is accountability. Being accountable is simply taking responsibility for actions, decisions, and policies. This extends to outcomes – successes or failures.
In the corporate world, many companies want to protect their good reputation and thus refuse to take responsibility for a mistake. This even extends to government. However, it becomes the case that these companies try to cover the mistakes and in the process more mistakes are made.
It is very important to first draw a nexus between accountability and success. As stated in the Winston Churchill’s quote above, greatness is achieved by taking responsibility. Behavioral scientists would always note that the first step in recovery from a failure is an acknowledgement of responsibility. However, too few people see this. Taking responsibility for a present failure goes a long way in determining success in the future. This works in the way of acknowledging the mistakes and looking for ways to fix them. Thomas Edison was asked how it felt to fail. His reply was simple. He said “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Accountability is essential to success and the reality that it is a skill that everyone can acquire makes it awesome. A few pointers to acquiring this skill will be discussed below.
Be personally accountable
Personal accountability is being able to lead oneself. If you can’t accept the fact that you made a mistake and learn from it, it is of less certainty that the next time you attempt that act you will succeed. As a leader, if you want those you lead to be accountable, then it starts with you. Leadership defines culture. Being accountable entails meeting commitments, adhering to stipulations, meeting deadlines, and taking responsibilities for personal faults.
An article in the Harvard Business Review titled: “Failure to Accept Responsibility is a Failure to Lead” stated the situation that “few executives need schooling in taking credit, but too many need some reminding about what happens when things go wrong.”
When everyone in an organization starts to see accountability as a job description, more productivity will be achieved.
Resolve to improve
Having accepted responsibility for a shortcoming, the next is not to dwell on it but to improve. New methods and approaches have to replace the failed ones. A change of mindset may also be needed. It is important to note that doing the same thing over again will give the same result. It may be difficult or practically impossible to change the past, the power over the present can be used to achieve success. Napoleon Hill said: “The successful leader must be willing to assume responsibility for the mistakes and the shortcomings of his followers.”
Learn to hold people accountable
It is good to be accountable as a leader but the accountability of a junior can lead to failure for a corporate venture. Good will overcome evil when it can convince evil to the side of good. Else, evil will negatively affect good.
It is important that a leader checks in and see how the work is being carried out. This brings the junior workers to the realization that they are responsible for the task at hand. As much as the accountability of the leader can rub off on the junior workers, it is still important to follow progress and see how assistance can be made available.
It is easy to talk about accountability for a leader of a team or group and leave out an ordinary team member. Everyone has to be accountable so as to be successful. Thus, the team member must understand that even if no one seems to notice the achievements made so far, more has to be accomplished. It will then be the case that the time the praise of the team member is sung to be right ears; it will be overwhelming to comprehend the great feat accomplished by the team member.
It will be advised that self-empowerment is vital. This is taking actions and risks to achieve goals. Rather than wait for a lucky break, give yourself that break to be lucky. Stepping out of the comfort zone to make things happens will invariably make for outstanding outcomes.
Learning to be accountable makes for success.
