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Accountability At The Workplace

By Darren Finkelstein
By Darren Finkelstein

The Accountability Guy®

Accountability At The Workplace

Accountability At The Workplace

We are often told that a successful business must ensure accountability at all stages of its operations. But what exactly does accountability means for a company, and how can one ensure accountability at the workplace? Does accountability serve any benefits? Read on to find the answers!

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What is Accountability?

The business dictionary states the meaning of ‘accountability’ is; The obligation of an individual or organisation to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. It also includes the responsibility for money or other entrusted property.

The way is see it, it’s much simpler than that: It’s about delivering on a promise or honouring a commitment made to others or to ourselves and making sure it gets done. You see, there is a difference between Accountability and Responsibility, they’re cousins, but not the same.

Let me explain. You are responsible for things and you’re accountable to people.

It is essential that if we want to Get Stuff Done we will need a person with whom we can work, someone in a central role to hold you to account.

To find this person, they need to have a proven track record of being able to get things done themselves. Have they walked the talk

Accountability increases Activity, Activity increases Opportunity and Opportunity is where we make money.

Accountability is a set of concepts, principles, and practices that are focused on enabling us to bring more positivity to our thoughts and actions by becoming aware of our intentions and taking control of our reactions to the events that are happening around us. Through a mindset focused on accountability, we can become more in tune with the real and actual scenario that exists around us while not falling prey to assumptions. We consider responsibility for each of our actions and activities and understand that everything we do directly influence those around us.

Research

A study* in the USA was undertaken and found out that the probability of completing a goal is:

  • 10% – If you have an actual idea or goal.
  • 25% – If you consciously decide you will do it.
  • 40% – If you decide when you will do it.
  • 50% – If you plan how you will do it.
  • 65% – If you commit to someone you will do it.
  • 95% – If you have a specific accountability appointment with a person you’ve committed to.

After reading this, how likely are you to achieve your; goals, promises, obligations and commitments alone?

Accountability is a concept that gives rise to a complete system of principles that can guide our actions and thoughts. In simple terms, accountability is the act of holding ourselves and others responsible for the actions we perform. This means being answerable to the actions we take, the responsibilities we hold, and the thoughts and feelings that inspire our actions by understanding that all these things influence those around us.

Accountability At The Workplace

In the workplace, accountability means understanding that we are answerable and responsible for the tasks we have been assigned, and the outcomes we achieve from any task are directly related to the actions we performed at the workplace.

This means that in the workplace, we completely take liability and responsibility for the actions and operations we conduct while at our place of work with an understanding that everything we do contributes to the progress of the company and our career profoundly.

With this knowledge and understanding, we can judge our actions and thoughts against a moral framework and evaluate the outcomes and results of every action regarding the effects they have on others around us.

Benefits Of Accountability At The Workplace

When we conduct our day to day operations with an attitude built on the mission to inspire positivity and accountability in every task we perform, we not only reap benefits for ourselves but others around us and the company.

These benefits include:

A Sense of Accomplishment

When we contribute to the positive energy of our surroundings and the progress of your company, we feel an inherent sense of achievement and accomplishment of having completed a task that was well-executed and positively impacted our career and those around us.

A Feeling of Responsibility

When we hold ourselves accountable for our actions, we take responsibility for the proper execution and completion of a task and understand that whatever we do has a butterfly effect that influences the whole company. With this sense of regard for everyone around us, we can better plan our activities and actions to achieve the highest productivity and benefits.

Contribution to Positivity and Motivation

By aligning our actions and thoughts to a deep regard for the welfare of everyone around us, we can contribute to the creation of a positive atmosphere in the workplace that inspires a sense of belonging for everyone and help motivate others to follow the same path and enact greater accountability in their everyday lives.

Helps Achieve Significant Goals and Progress

By creating easily achievable short-term goals for ourselves and pulling through with a dedication and accountable approach, we can guarantee progress and build long-term achievements and reach milestones more efficiently.

Conclusion

Although it is not easy to implement accountability suddenly everywhere in our lives, it can nevertheless be learned and applied successfully to many aspects of our work and personal life. By building an understanding of accountability and its principles and practices, we can create a lifestyle that helps us achieve more significant gains and deliver better results at work while creating a welcoming and comfortable relationship with colleagues and friends.

To learn more about how you can practice accountability in your daily life, please visit our blog roll for more in-depth articles.