Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 27 seconds
TODAY’S IDEA: Accountability is a Choice – Part 1
— From The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington
“Accountability is perhaps the most misunderstood concept in business and in life,” say Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington, authors of The 12 Week Year.
How so?
Moran and Lennington explain that when we hear the phrase to hold someone accountable, it’s usually in a negative context. Thus, we equate accountability with the negative consequences that are to follow due to some sort of poor performance or bad behavior.
They give the example of managers saying, “We need to do a better job of holding people accountable.” And they also give the example of individuals who, in their desire to perform better, have said, “I just need someone to hold me accountable.”
The problem, the authors state, is that “these types of statements reflect the mistaken notion that accountability is something that can and must be imposed; that’s not accountability, that’s consequences.”
I agree with them up to this point, but… What is accountability then?
“Accountability is not consequences, but ownership. It is a character trait, a life stance, a willingness to own your actions and results regardless of the circumstances.”
Then they go on to say that the essence of accountability is the notion that we all have freedom of choice. They explain it beautifully, so I will leave a small excerpt here for you:
“Freedom of choice [is] the foundation of accountability.
Accountability is the realization that you always have choice; that, in fact, there are no have-to’s in life. Have-to’s are those things we hate to do but do anyway because we have to… Everything we do in life is a choice. Even in an environment where there are requirements of you, you still have a choice, but there is a big difference when you approach something as a choose-to versus a have-to. When something is a have-to it’s a burden, it’s cumbersome, and, at best, you meet the minimum standards; however, the realization that you ultimately have a choice creates a very different scenario. When you choose to do something, you are able to tap your resources and give your best. It is a much more empowering stance. Ultimately, you choose your actions, your results, your consequences.”
ACTION
TODAY: Think of how you have been understanding accountability up to this point. Was it in the same negative context that the authors say? Now that you have a new perspective, what do you choose to do? What will you get to do? Here’s a post from last month that talks about reprograming your brain to enjoy what would otherwise be considered hard habits.
FUTURE: When you find yourself saying “I have to,” remember that you always have a choice. Embrace ownership and your mind will shift for the better.
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