I don’t know about you but being “held accountable” has not be a very positive experience for me. It has almost always been a negative, “missing the mark” time for me. I can’t recall, though it might have happened, where my successes were celebrated. It was always looking for what didn’t get done or not done well. Needless to say, being accountable was not something I wanted to do. Most of the time, the goals and tasks I’m being held accountable for are someone else’s that were imposed upon me and my falling short has caused them problems.
So do I throw out being accountable or explore how to look at it differently? As I’ve explored why this has been true for me I’ve learned several things.
- Accountability is taking ownership, according to Brian Moran in The 12 Week Year. There is a call to make a decision, identify the actions to be taken and taking ownership of getting them done. Then reviewing the progress, not to find fault, but to find changes that can be made to advance toward the goal. It is being transparent and asking for help.
- Accountability from others or self-discipline from within simply doesn’t work if I’m working against my heart. Real accountability is holding my self responsible for my own actions in accord with my heart’s desires and dreams.
- When someone has asked me to hold them accountable, it is only to help them with reaching their own goals and tasks, not mine. To help them review their progress, celebrating their successes and find ways to improve areas that need it.
What are you thoughts on how to make accountability the positive and helpful activity that it can be?