Accountability is a word that causes all kinds of feelings.

Feelings of Guilt
Like, “Gosh, I’ve totally forgotten that. I better email them quickly.”

And then you keep on postponing that email because you feel so bad!

Feelings of Blame
Thoughts are, “I walk my talk. But – oh my goodness – it’s the people in my environment who mismanage themselves.”

This quote tells it all:

“When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.”
David Brin, science fiction author

Feelings of FEELING GOOD
You feel good and confident. Like in the great song:

It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good

That feeling arises when – just like a New Years Resolution – you’ve decided to be more – much more – accountable. Or when you’ve been accountable and met a deadline that was a reach.

Feelings of Frustration
Thoughts like this could arise, “When are they going to be accountable? I don’t want to be the one who is always following up with them!”

Yes, sometimes feelings of frustration arise because your employees or co-workers are not as accountable as they could.

Feelings of Self-Pity
Then your thoughts might go like, “No wonder that I miss a deadline. I’m so busy. I’m doing here the work of three people. They should hire.”

Funny, isn’t it?

One word.

So many feelings. Let’s discuss what you can do about it.

Three Simple Tips To Increase Accountability

[Note: what makes these tips simple is that they are all in your control.]

Tip 1.
This tip is not only simple but also most effective. If you look accountability up in the dictionary, you’ll find two definitions for “accountable”:

  1. Responsible
  2. Understandable/Explicable

Right on.

How can you be responsible for something if you don’t understand the result? Make sure that you own your results. Understand and be specific for your own tasks you need to be accountable for and for tasks you delegate. If you delegate a task, make it understandable. Creating shorter deadlines for smaller tasks will support this. Help people to be responsible by making it understandable.

Tip 2.
If something does not go as planned – and I guarantee you that will happen – watch your reactions. What feelings come up? See the list above. Watch the feelings but don’t wallow in them. Get back on track. Fix what you’ve broken if you have been the one who has not been accountable or create a learning opportunity for someone else.

Tip 3.
Communicate. Address. Sometimes these conversations get tense. Communication around accountability becomes tricky if you make one of these classic, accountability mistakes.

You:

– Are not accountable yourself. “Look who’s talking”, will be your employee’s first reaction during the accountability conversation. Of course, they won’t say it, but they’ll think it.

Don’t communicate on time that you’re missing a deadline.

Postpone having a conversation. Address accountability the moment it pops up its ugly head. Don’t postpone.

Helping people become more accountable is a service. Support people so they keep their word; doing so is a huge confidence builder. But always go that extra mile yourself: what can you improve yourself so you’re more accountable.

Please share!