Altruistic Accountability...Is It Possible?

In a very candid conversation I had today, I was asked what makes me unreasonable. We all have our trigger points I suppose but this question really made me think both on a professional and personal level. 'I don't like to be blamed or held responsible for someone's well-being, stability or peace of mind,' I retorted after taking a few breaths to be clear with my words. I thought back on conversations I've had with people all over the world and a statement that has been uttered in various languages, contexts and innuendos and it all deals with accountability.?

It's easy to find the flaws in what other businesses are doing, especially when you are an offshore vendor working with a team that may not have the same technical expertise you do. Or even a US executive who knows just how 'easy' it is to perform a task yet for some odd reason it's like rocket science to the vendor they're working with. In these moments, pushing blame, frustration and utter disbelief may come natural to you. But what I am hoping to gain from working with companies globally is to find those who are willing and able to provide altruistic accountability. That is holding yourselves accountable at such a high level that its not to impress your client or partners but rather to ensure the greater good in the organization, mission and vision.?

Now I am not a philosopher by any means, but I do read a lot of various genres of literature. And one thing that sticks with me is a Buddhist/ Tao Te Ching/Zen proverb 'When the Student is ready the Master will appear.' How does this apply to business and working with global teams? Simple... As we approach our businesses with open minds and a readiness to learn, we will be ready to receive the lessons intended for that season. We do not have to live in a reality where outsourcing, working with a team overseas or communicating with a foreign entity is a challenge. We can operate at the highest levels of ourselves and our businesses while holding ourselves accountable.?

Let's take the tenured US executive as an example. I've been on hundreds if not thousands of calls in which the US Manager was giving instructions on a task. With the belief that the offshore vendor should already be the expert they intentionally or maybe even unintentionally use ambiguous language. As the tasks begins to unfold, they are back on the call asking why things aren't done properly? Where is the quality assurance that was to take place? Who is in charge of the project? Although these are valid questions, had the executive practiced altruistic accountability, they would have refrained from providing vague instruction and rather thought more about the company’s mission instead of their own.?

The same example can be true for an offshore team. At times I am told by companies abroad that they can do it all. They have the human capital, the know-how, the technology to take on these massive projects. But in reality, they do not… they may have 'access' to more resources but that is not the same thing as having them in your possession, trained, vetted and ready to execute. So instead of approaching the project with this altruistic accountability, they jump on the task blinded and hope for the best result… which as we know often ends with failure. Sadly, even when this occurs, it’s portrayed that it was the US companies' fault for not seeing their value or not providing clear instructions for them to follow.?

In both scenarios, we can point the finger at the other party, or we can look inwardly and see where we are at fault for the mishaps. So, as you work with your teams today whether you're in Chennai or Chicago, let's be sure we're approaching things with the right perspective. Only then can we manifest efficient global business and continue to create sustainable companies.?