I hear that all the time...
"Accountability is
DO what you SAID you were going to DO!
Keep your word!"
And...
IF that is the definition of accountability, then NONE of us are accountable.
Now think about it...
How often do you, or people who you rely on, trust and value, NOT do what you said you were going to do when you said you were going to do it?"
It happens with some regularity in my world.
Is it because I don't care... NO!
Is it because I wasn't committed... NO!
Is it because I am not competent or capable... NO!
Is it because I am not accountable... hmmm... maybe by that definition!
It's the WRONG DEFINITION!
External factors come into play into almost every situation in life. External factors that you can't control... (i.e. it snows, a key employee gets really sick, your car breaks down, your cat dies), and external factors that you have some control over... (i.e. a huge proposal is due the same day, you get invited to the Bruce Springsteen on Broadway concert, you learn that there is more scope in order to do a great job and you want to do the extra research).
What if you simply decide you need more time to do the right job? And, you work into the night, but you still need more time. Do you just hand the work in because that is what you said you were going to do?
"DO what you SAY you are GOING to DO" while generally a great idea and plan, discounts all of the external factors if it is to be the benchmark of accountability.
I prefer the definition "OWN what you said you were going to OWN!"
ACCOUNTABILITY IS ABOUT - OWNING IT!
What is the difference?
When I "own" it, I make sure it gets done the best that it can... whatever that may be. I "own" not just my word, or my deadline, but the thing itself. I own the external conditions, and I own the overall success and delivery of the INTENT of the task / initiative, NOT JUST THE DELIBERABLE or the DEADLINE.
That's really it...
"Do what you said you were going to do" makes you responsible for the task, discounting or ignoring the realities that life throws your way.
"Owning what you said you were going to own" accepts responsibility for the unknown and makes you accountable for the intent of it all, not just the task.
How does it look different? If you "own" it:
- You communicate your progress proactively.
- You consider all aspects of the initiative and RETHINK the deliverables (scope and timing) if needed.
- You leverage all resources. Even if you can't finish it yourself, maybe there is someone better suited or more available to execute the task.
- You alter the details of the execution with transparency and inclusion of other stakeholders in the best interest of the objective.
- You ask for help EARLY if you think the task is at risk! You consider different ways of executing it...
I have seen people under the definition of "Do what you said you would do" stay up late at night... in fact stay up all night and then hand in poor quality reports and not finish their task.
In companies where the culture is "do what you said you would do"... there is also a sense of "every man/woman for him/herself"...
In companies where the culture is "own what you said you would own"... there is greater communication, vulnerability, flexibility and collaboration...
DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU WOULD DO - does not act for help. It is not humble or complete accountability.
Every time I hear leaders stand up and shout proudly... BE ACCOUNTABLE... Do what you say you will do... I cringe...
ACCOUNTABILITY to me is about ownership... it's about ownership with humility and flexibility.
ACCOUNTABILITY is about CLEAR EXPECTATIONS UP FRONT!
ACCOUNTABILITY is about being SPECIFIC...
ACCOUNTABILITY is about COMMUNICATING effectively... transparently.
ACCOUNTABILITY is about adapting to the external factors that life throws at you!
ACCOUNTABILITY is about HUMILITY and LEARNING and PROGRESS and SUCCESS...
So, next time you hear "Do what you said you were going to do!"... It's an interesting thought... and more often than not, it's a good goal to deliver on...
but just stop and think...
at what point is what I said I was going to do no longer the best path forward...
or simply at risk...
AT EMG, we guarantee "on-time" delivery of our reports in the transactional real estate space. Of the last nearly 50,000 reports approximately 10 were "late" and most of those where delivered within a day after they were due.
This is an unbelievable accomplishment by the team... and one that is only possible by people sharing the accountability. Everyone OWNS their part, but very often people can't or don't "Do what they said they were going to do!" because life gets in the way. The way we deliver "ON TIME. EVERY TIME. GUARANTEED!" is by OWNING the INTENT of our promise TOGETHER.
This is not just nomenclature... it's not just words... when we lived in a world of "do what you said you would do" we would hold people accountable and be more likely to "blame" them if they missed their mark. Now, we look for ways to HELP each other and communicate more proactively, which was essential to make us a much more accountable company to our promise.
If we lived in a world where everyone was asked to "do what they said" we would have been late 10X or even 100X more... because external factors come into play... It is by holding ourselves to a higher standard... by OWNING what we said, not just as individuals but as a collaborative team that our performance and accountability reached incomparable industry levels.
CALL IT WHAT IT IS... CALL IT WHAT IT SHOULD BE...
WHAT IF... Accountability was to OWN everything you said you were going to OWN... with commitment & humility... with great intention...
how would you attack things differently?
in harmony,
Nestor