OWNERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE AGILE AGE

Lack of accountability is, aside from incivility, probably the top complaint I deal with for my corporate clients. Managers struggle to keep teams accountable for delivery, whilst teams struggle to balance extreme workloads, limitations such as vacancies, and poor processes, poor communication and the like, with the need to deliver in an accountable manner. And rather than open the channels of communication to fix whatever is broken in the system, a large number of people engage in a vigorous game of ‘blame thy neighbour.’ You don’t have to deliver on time if you have a good enough excuse about a colleague not doing their part on time, or some issue prohibiting you from finishing what was needed. Disengaged employees cost their companies about 30% of their annual salary. Research by Gallup shows that only about 13% of employees across 142 countries are actively engaged in their work.?

Unhappy In Your Workplace?

You might not like your boss. He might be an uncivil jerk, or she might be a backstabbing… snitch. Your computer might be slow, or you could be sick and tired of carrying the workload whilst your colleague enjoys long lunches and YouTube videos. You might even be battling difficult stakeholders and poor processes. If this is your situation, you are part of a group that recent research found to make up about 53% of the current workforce. You read that right…?more than half of the workforce is unhappy at work.?

You could use these stats to justify lack of engagement, or you could use them in your favour. Who do you think gets the promotion or the new job? The disengaged, unaccountable guy in the corner who delivers barely the necessary, or the upbeat guy who works hard and gives his best? Find the value and meaning in what you do. Recently I helped two ladies understand that their jobs as cleaners in the pathology lab at a university were worthwhile based on the fact that they keep the environment safe and pathogen-free for the scientists.?

Accountability Starts With You

Your job has meaning – whether you directly or indirectly serve. An admin person in a logistics company might find meaning in the fact that their submission of completed paperwork enables the distribution of life-saving medications, the same as an aircraft fueller knows that he contributes greatly to the ability of loved ones to connect despite vast distances.?

Engage. Be accountable. Disregard the context that stops you from doing it, work past the people who make it difficult, and be one of the 13% of outliers who will be noticed for their engagement and accountability. And if you truly are that, and over time you know it has not been acknowledged or noticed, perhaps that is the proof you need to go find a healthier space.?Contact me?if I can be useful in your journey.

I'm an experienced Senior Business Consultant helping people across divergent industries to balance all areas of their lives for a happier and more fulfilled worklife. I'm skilled in Emotional Intelligence (training and coaching), Career Development, HR Consulting, Organisation Development, Coaching, and Psychological Assessment. Read more articles on my website:?www.avssa.net ?????