When you’re personally accountable, you take ownership of
situations and see them through.
Personal accountability is being willing to answer for
the outcomes resulting from your choices, behaviors, and actions. When you’re personally accountable, you take ownership of
situations that you’re involved in. You see them through, and you take
responsibility for what happens – good or bad. You don’t blame others if things
go wrong. Instead, you do your best to make things right.
Sometimes it can be tough to take personal
accountability. However, you'll find that it offers many advantages.
First, you’re likely to have healthier relationships with
your friends, family, and colleagues. A study found that children who were encouraged
to take personal responsibility for their actions also had more positive social
interactions.
Accountability also builds trust within teams and
organizations, because people know that they can depend on each other. Leaders
who are accountable are more likely to be trusted and respected, because people
know that they will keep their word.
Personal accountability can save time and money, too.
People who take responsibility for their actions speak up, and they look for
solutions when there's a problem. This not only prevents the situation getting
worse, but it stops costs and delays from escalating.
Last, personal accountability can boost your chances of
promotion. When you show senior colleagues that you’re dependable, you mark
yourself out as someone with leadership potential.
How to Be More Accountable
Personal accountability isn’t a trait that people are
born with, it’s a way of living that you can learn. Use the strategies below to
become more accountable.
Know
Your Role - It’s hard to be personally accountable if
you're not clear what you’re responsible for.
If this is the case for you, ask your boss to provide a
job description that sets out your tasks clearly. If responsibilities are
unclear within the team, ask your manager to outline who is responsible for
different team tasks, and to share this information with everyone involved.
Be
Honest - Success in life only comes when you’re completely honest
with yourself, and with others. This means setting aside your pride, and admitting
when you’ve made a mistake.
So, tune into your "gut feelings" when things
are difficult, and learn to ask for help if you’re struggling, so that you
don’t let others down.
Honesty is always the best policy, but don’t use it to
blame others, or to make excuses. Instead, focus on your own role in a
situation, and think about how you can resolve the problem.
Say
Sorry - Accountability doesn’t stop with honesty. If something
has gone wrong and you were responsible, then you need to apologize.
Focus on making amends when you apologize – show what
you’ll do to make the situation right. This allows everyone involved to move
on, and helps them focus on the end goal, rather than the problem.
Also sometimes we must become aware of the legal
implications of saying sorry: in some countries and states, this can be taken
as an admission of liability.Take advice from your boss or a legal professional
if you need to apologize on behalf of your organization.
Use
Time Wisely - Procrastination is a common way to avoid
responsibility, as it delays dealing with a problem, meaning that someone else
may solve it instead. Your colleagues may feel that they can’t rely on you, and
this will affect your professional reputation.
You can overcome procrastination by identifying why you
do it. Is the task dull? Do you lack information or resources? Or is there some
other cause? Once you understand why you put things off, you can take steps to
fix the problem.
Next, practice good time management, so that you make
time for what’s important. Use tools such as the Urgent/Important Matrix or
Action Programs to manage your time more efficiently.
Don't Over Commit - When you take on too much, something will
eventually fall through the cracks. That means that you've let someone down.
So, before you agree to a new task, think carefully about
your schedule and whether you'll be able to fulfill the task to the best of
your ability.
If you're not sure that you can complete it, say
"yes" to the person and "no" to the task so that you
maintain a strong relationship and a good reputation.
Make
Changes - Accountability can open up powerful learning
opportunities. When something hasn’t gone to plan, ask for feedback, and look
for ways to do things differently in the future.
Reflect on your actions, too: spend some time at the end
of each day running through these simple questions: What could I have done
differently today? How can I build this change into my job from now on?
In time, you’ll build new skills and better ways to deal
with difficult situations.
In some failing organizations, managers who avoid being
accountable can get ahead, while those who take responsibility may be ejected if
some small thing goes wrong.
If your organization has this type of culture, then it
may be time to become accountable, and find a new role in a better
organization.
So remember…When you’re personally accountable, you take
ownership of what happens as a result of your choices and actions. You don’t
blame others or make excuses, and you do what you can to make amends when
things go wrong.
To become more accountable, make sure that you're clear
about your roles and responsibilities. Be honest with yourself and others, so
you can admit when you’re wrong, apologize, and move on.
Make the most of your time, and manage it carefully so that
you don't take on too much.
Think carefully about situations where you didn’t take
responsibility but should have. These mistakes and failures can be valuable
teaching tools, if you have the courage to learn from them.
Expand your knowledge and enlighten your mind with the
tools you need to excel in life! Work with a Business and Life Management Coach
with over 20 years’ experience empowering people to attain self-defined success
in their professional & personal lives. Book a free session at www.denisedema.com today!
