Call it Accountability, Blameworthiness, or Being Answerable!

While gathering and comprehending my thoughts on how best to bring out the accountability aspects, I happen to read about “blameworthiness”, which happens to be the synonym of Accountability. Truly a powerful word it is, isn’t it?

Accountability is an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions. Being accountable simply means being responsible for the decisions made, actions taken, and which may be related to assignments completed.

The term accountable originates from?the Latin computare, “to count.” Also, we can even see how the word accountability word split up as-

Never forget one aspect of accountability, that, it is a “2-way street”

Now that we have skimmed through the definitions or have got a brief understanding of accountability, let us know where we stumble on being accountable? Why is it that we slip on this aspect?

Throughout our growth years, we’ve learned to be accountable to someone else.?As young children, we must do what our parents tell us, or punishment might befall us.?As students, we must do what our teachers tell us, or our grades might be affected.?As employees, we must do want our bosses to tell us or our jobs might be in jeopardy.?Our understanding of being accountable for our actions is driven by our need to comply with the demands of others.?No one shows us how to be?accountable to ourselves, right?

While lack of training in being accountable to ourselves may be one element, another may be our own resistance to calling ourselves out on the decisions and choices we make.?When we avoid being accountable, we make a conscious decision not to do something and then another decision to downplay the importance of not following through.

Done repeatedly, we develop a habit of convincing ourselves that not doing what we say we will do has no real consequences.?This?level of avoidance?and denial, to the contrary, has real severe consequences on our ability to maintain trust with others and a stable level of conviction within ourselves. Even when we know we're not accountable, we justify it! ?

By the time we realize that our own level of accountability has not only affected our jobs or businesses and the trust we need from others has dwindled, but we may also feel the need to defend our own shortcomings as a matter of pride.

We may even go as far as blaming others for the things that did not happen because we did nothing to make them happen.?Most people know what is the right thing to do.?They understand why it’s important to do certain things and they realize (intellectually) what will happen if they don’t. Even with all this awareness, they still choose to?avoid being accountable?to themselves.??

Why accountability factor becomes so important in life??

Accountability is a friend of our Inner Critic; it always seeks solutions for bettering ourselves. It does not allow for complaining—we have the power to take control over the actions we can control and let go of the rest.?There is no one to blame now except ourselves if for any reason we deviate off course. The good news is we can?always hop back on track and move forward. Accountability expands our ability to problem-solve or resolve the root cause and move forward inconsistent fashion?toward our desired outcome. When coupled with responsibility, we can take full ownership of our life. It is not always peaches and cream, but often?it leads to positive change and healthier relationships.

Also, to re-iterate, nothing in life can be carried out to the fullest without accountability! It is the one ingredient to this process that glues all these steps together to make a new you come to fruition. Accountability means living in integrity, with all our thoughts, words, and actions are consistent with one another and in alignment.??

Just observe the beautiful saying shown below. Makes so much sense to me.?

Shall we now see how best to improve the accountability part?

Never forget, “Accountability starts with you”.

Step 1:??Being accountable requires the right perspective?

First, recognize that the reason you choose to do some things and not others is that your perception may be influenced by reward and consequences.?This has to do with your early exposure to being accountable to others.?There's always a reward or consequence for the decision you make. Now that you must be accountable to yourself, you need to?revise your perspective?to one of maintaining a high standard of integrity.?When you act as you have committed, you build a sense of accomplishment based on the feeling of knowing you were true to yourself.?This is a huge confidence builder that develops over time.

Step 2:??Know your limits

Be conscious of what you are committing to.?Some of the problems with accountability stem from overextending yourself which gives you ‘permission’ not to do the things you agreed to because you find yourself overloaded.

A good way to control over-committing is to?define your priorities?and time devoted to them.?This way, you can evaluate potential commitments based on their importance and not on the open space you might have on your calendar.?And of course, learn how to say tactfully and professionally 'No' to 'feel good' but less important endeavors.

Step 3:??Find other things/ people to be accountable to

Since many of us have been conditioned to be accountable to others, set up other areas to be accountable to.?If keeping appointments is difficult, use a calendar to lock them in.?In fact, using a calendar for all your committed activities (even tasks you do for yourself) is a great way to learn to hold yourself accountable.?

Conditioning yourself?to follow through with promises you make is the main behavior that improves accountability.?Using other tools or people to help facilitate greater self-directed action is an effective way to become more accountable.

Step 4:??Implement deadlines

A good accountability practice is to?place deadlines on everything.?Without deadlines, things usually get pushed aside for more immediate tasks that pop up.?When this happens, you will likely attend to what is urgent before you work on what is important.?Urgent always finds a way to override important.

Be careful with scheduling activities too tightly.?Give yourself room between activities and tasks for a break.?Sometimes, 10 minutes can make all the difference when it comes to staying on track.?Working too long without a break creates fatigue and fatigue will sabotage accountability continuously.?When you are tired, your brain minimizes important tasks and allows you to put them off.

Step 5:??Learn from your failures

Finally, permit yourself to fail.?Sounds odd especially when running a business.?People equate failure with some sort of financial loss or another damaging setback.?But in our daily lives, we fail to accomplish all sorts of things we attempt to do or tell ourselves we must do.?Use failure as a tool?for learning about yourself and changing how you decide on commitments, actions, expectations, etc.?

Also, see the magic accountability spawns. Have a grasp!

Accountability inspires confidence

When done right, accountability can increase your team members’ skills and confidence. Don’t mistake accountability for controlling behavior.

Accountability promotes ownership

When you make people accountable for their actions, you’re effectively teaching them to value their work.

Accountability improves performance

Accountability eliminates the time and effort you spend on distracting activities and other unproductive behavior.

Accountability builds trust

Perhaps the most important result of accountability is trust, which is essential in any relationship.

Accountability and happiness??? Can this be related ever?

Yes, why not! Being accountable is taking 100% responsibility for your relationships, your motivation, how much you get done, and how passionate you are about your life. It’s taking ownership for living from purpose and values and building trust no matter what. When you lack accountability, you suffer. You feel disempowered, victimized, and resentful because you are opting to be so.

After you have read/understood all the content above, I am rest-assured on who has the below 10 qualities of accountable people! It is none other than YOU.

You are now double enriched with all the wonderful qualities mentioned above.

YOU ROCK AND YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE!