Accountability 1

(Monday)

Context:

As a child, teenager, or even a young adult, you may not have many significant responsibilities like your parents or other adults. For instance, you probably aren't responsible for paying monthly rent or a mortgage, utility bills, or grocery expenses. In other words, you may not have many obligations that you are personally accountable for in your life.

However, as you transition into adulthood, and especially when you enter the workplace, you will assume various significant and vital responsibilities. You will be held accountable for those responsibilities.

What it is: Webster's Dictionary defines accountability as: "the obligation or willingness to accept responsibility for one's actions." It continues “At work, that might look like owning a mistake and sharing it as a learning experience or giving a presentation around your personal contributions and their impact.”

Notice that being accountable means you learn to feel obligated and willing to take responsibility for yourself, and as we’ll learn in this lesson, even for others.

Why it’s important: It all comes down to reliability and trust. Someone who is accountable can be relied upon to complete a task or assignment. Those who lack accountability tend to provide excuses for unfinished work. They typically avoid taking responsibility and, even worse, fail to take the initiative to rectify a problem, seek solutions, or finish a task.

If you lack accountability, meaning you don't take personal responsibility for assignments in the workplace, you will struggle to earn the trust of your team or employers. You won't become a reliable asset to your company, making you more vulnerable to layoffs.

So take the time now to develop the durable skill of being accountable.

Primer Questions

  1. Have you heard the phrase “The Buck stops here”? What do you think that phrase means or involves?

  2. Do you often find yourself needing to offer explanations, excuses or justifications to others?

  3. Do you like to take on responsibility or have people depend on you? Why or why not?

Write down your answers and observations in your journal.

According to www.entrepreneur.com

You significantly increase your chances of success, up to 95%, when you involve someone who can monitor your progress and help you stay accountable for your actions. Would you personally agree? Why or why not?

But you can be super successful if you hold yourself accountable. But how?

What are some practical ways to develop your desire to be accountable?

Many people shy away from taking the lead because they don't want to shoulder all the responsibility. This hesitation usually stems from two primary concerns: 1) they fear taking the blame if things go wrong, or 2) they doubt their ability to see a task through to completion.

However, by developing the right mindset and attitude, you can become someone who welcomes the challenge of being accountable."

Watch the video.

Self-Acceptance: A Key Ingredient to Taking on More Responsibility.

If you can accept yourself as you are, for who you are, you will be able to take on responsibility without too much stress. Why?

When you can accept that you can and will make mistakes, that you don't know everything, and that it’s okay to ask for help and advice, you can focus on completing tasks rather than worrying about what others think about you.

You can focus on collaborating and using the strengths of others to see a task through to completion.

Think about a time when you completed a task with some friends, family, or group. Was it easier to get things done working together?

Remember: Being accountable in the workplace doesn't mean you need to know or do everything yourself. While taking responsibility for achieving the final result is on your shoulders, how you get there is entirely up to you. It’s ok to ask for help. So choose to reach your goal with the help of others. With the right people in place, you can accomplish anything.

What if it’s All on You? : When Accountability is challenging.

We've discussed the importance of being accountable in the workplace, and the key aspect of learning to lean on others and collaborate.

However, there are times in school and in the future when a task or assignment may be entirely up to you to complete. Here are five ways to help hold yourself accountable:

  1. Take small steps: Break your tasks into smaller, manageable steps and tackle them one at a time.

  2. Set goals: Consider setting a goal to finish one task a day, or more, depending on your schedule. Set clear objectives and strive to achieve them. In line with this...

  3. Create a schedule: Note the deadline for the task or project and your available time, and match achievable goals with your schedule.

  4. Reward yourself: Take breaks, acknowledge the progress you're making, and give yourself small rewards.

  5. Accountability Partner: Even if you have to complete a task alone, consider having an accountability partner – someone who can check in on you to ensure you're setting goals and following your schedule.

Metacognitive Goals

Over the next few days, reflect on your attitude toward accountability. Are you the go-to person in group situations? Do people ask you to organize the group or make final decisions? Or do you often find yourself avoiding responsibility and making excuses? Consider your approach both in group settings and when working on individual tasks, and answer the question why.

Thought of the day.

“Eventually, we all have to accept full and total responsibility for our actions, everything we have done and have not done.”

-Hubert Selby Jr.