Accountability starts with being accountable
Reconsider the words we associate with accountability.
I was having a conversation with one of my clients about accountability. This really got me thinking about accountability and the words we often use in the workplace, with our friends, families, and relationships, and with our leaders (ahem, it happens to be “Presidents’ Day” as I’m writing this). I put together some thoughts on what it means to be accountable to ourselves and with others.
Start with being accountable.
I’ve found that when we talk about accountability, we often start with words like hold them accountable. More on that below. But why do we start out thinking of others? How about we shift any conversation about accountability to first thinking about ourselves. What does accountability mean to us? How are we demonstrating accountability? How do we focus on being accountable ourselves before moving on to others?
Move toward each other and away from hierarchy.
Work together to establish shared expectations and then hold each other accountable. Shift away from systems and structures where those with positional leadership determine the expectations and then attempt to hold others accountable who report to them. Use shared expectations and accountability as one way to move away from hierarchies;
Accountability as a consultant.
In my roles as a planner, facilitator, and interim executive director, I am committed to holding myself accountable, following through on expectations, and adhering to timelines. I am learning how to better work with clients who have identified that they have a hard time staying accountable to their own plans and deadlines. I’m also learning that sometimes I may need to let go of whatever I said I would do and whenever I said I would get it done.
How are you practicing accountability?
Here is a set of questions to ask yourself and your organization:
Do we have clear understanding of what it means to be accountable to ourselves first and then with others in our workplace?
Do we set expectations together rather than from the top down?
Do we have established, shared norms around giving and receiving feedback?
Are we clear with how we can communicate with each other when some of us aren’t getting the work done or aren’t meeting deadlines?
Do we have policies, systems, and procedures in place around accountability that are updated, fair, and respectful?
Are we considering race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, language, mobility, economic status, learning differences (and more) with our understanding and systems of accountability in our workplace?