Accountability: Owning Your Outcomes

In today's episode, Tim and Junior continue the "Leading with Character and Competence" series by discussing the third cornerstone of character: accountability. Great leaders love accountability. They are not afraid of transparency and take ownership of their actions and outcomes. Their high levels of accountability help them avoid blame, denial, or excuses.(02:30) Tim and Junior describe accountability through stories. The opposite of accountability is irresponsibility, which involves shedding accountability and entitlement.(15:24) Leadership is not just about total transparency; accountability must be internal, not only forced externally. "And that all goes back to how much accountability you are going to take for yourself. Is it intrinsic? Or are you waiting for the control systems around you to keep you in line?"(21:43) Tim and Junior share ways to improve accountability, including finishing what you start. "Urgency is a catalyst, but seldom a sustainer. It doesn't keep you going over the long haul. So you have to find some other source of motivation." They also emphasize avoiding short-term thinking, stating, "All the significant and good things I can think of, whether in an organization or in personal life, come from short-term sacrifice, not short-term gratification."(27:45) Be intentional about the values for which you hold yourself accountable. "If you're not explicit about the principles to which you're accountable, then you're only accountable to your own self-interest."(34:52) Accountability improves confidence. "The more accountable you are over a longer period of time, the more confidence you can have in yourself that you'll be able to do what you say you're going to do."(37:28) Tim shares a story about entitlement using turkeys as an example. Entitlement is on the opposite end of the accountability spectrum. Organizations need to understand that "that which is consistently given is consistently expected." Individuals should also be mindful of this type of entitlement in themselves.(40:28) Let achievement be its own reward. "Why are you doing what you're doing? Is it for others? Is the accountability to your goal externally driven? Are you doing it for fame, glory, and money? What can you do to shift that accountability to yourself?"(44:55) Accountability to higher ideals lasts a lifetime. "Accountability to integrity as an ideal lives longer than you. It's an aspiration that you can have for a lifetime. Accountability to improvement, accountability to compassion, accountability to whatever ideal you choose."Important LinksLeading with Character and Competence: Moving Beyond Title, Position, and Authority