THE POWER OF ACCOUNTABILITY!
Accountable! It is one of those terms people have a love/hate
relationship with. They want others to be held accountable, but when it
comes to their own accountability, they some times get upset.
Here is the challenge I see today! We have replaced “accountability”
with “entitlement!” Many don’t want to be held “accountable” for their
behavior, but feel they are “entitled” to whatever they want. To me, this
is not only a growing issue, but one we have to address. The lack of
accountability means anything goes!
First and foremost, let’s seek to understand what “Accountability” is!
This is my definition:
Being responsible for your behavior and all the results that behavior
creates.
I think you can see from that short but pointed definition why people
would react to being held accountable. Here is a truth we must
understand:
Where there is no accountability there is permission
to continue the behaviors without any concern or
repercussions to what they might do.
That means one has the right to:
 blame others
 reason their way of being accountable
 excuse their way out
 justify because no one told them any differently
The result is a person who has free reign to do whatever they want to do
with there being any consequences.
We must get back to holding people accountable for what they have
done; we must face what the lack of accountability is doing to our
society. Accountability makes one responsible for their behavior!
There is Power In Accountability!
 P personal responsibility is in place
 O order is established
 W wrong is viewed as wrong
 E expectations about behavior become clear
 R responsibility
THIS IS OUR TOPIC FOR THIS POWER TO BE SESSION – THE
POWER OF ACCOUNTABILITY!
Until a person has to be responsible for their behavior, there is no
reason for them to face or be concerned about their behavior! That
creates a free for all! Nothing is their fault; they can walk away without
an consequences, because the devil made them do it! The devil he did!
Behavior is a choice and with choice goes responsibility and with in
responsibility there is accountability. It is as simple as that! Yet, in our
world today we want to excuse the behavior of people; we want to allow
them to continue to do those things that shouldn’t be acceptable.
People want to blame everyone and everything for their behavior! As
long as they can get away with that, there will be no accountability. The
fact is life is your choice, and whatever choice you make, you should be
accountable for.
Why Won’t We Hold A Person Accountable For Their Behavior?
 Addressing something they may have learned from you
If their behavior is something you have taught them through
your actions, then, yes, are part of the issue
 Confrontation is not something you are comfortable doing
Whatever you don’t confront, you validate!
 Consequences that might have to be put in place
Don’t want to hurt or punish people. Yet, if there are no
consequences, then anything goes and everything is ok.
 Others are doing it; so what’s the problem
If others are doing it, it must be ok!
 Unleashes the fear of “what if”
“What if” is just another form of avoidance behavior.
 Not hurting anyone; what’s the issue
All behavior has an attachment to others. Someone will be
affected.
 They may not like you
It is not about “being liked;” It is about right and wrong.
 Always been this way
That doesn’t mean it always has to be that way.
 Believe things will work their own self out
Things that are left to solve their self just collect more emotions
and create more conflict.
 Leads to other issues that might need to be addressed
So be it! If they need to be addressed, they need to be addressed.
 Emotions are just too much to deal with
Avoiding will not remove the emotions; they will just stack
others on top of those that are already there. Better to clear
what is, rather than create more emotional collisions for
tomorrow.
Here is what we must understand –WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY
 Any thing goes!
Where there are no rules, there is only chaos!
 Confusion is given free reign
Without accountability no one knows the difference between
right and wrong.
 Correct behavior doesn’t really matter
When one can do whatever they want, whatever they do must be
ok!
 Operates at a level of no respect for others
The lack of accountability says, “I don’t have to listen to you,”
which says I don’t have to respect you or your words.
 Unacceptable behavior becomes ok
If a behavior is unacceptable, but not confronted, then, in
reality, it must be ok.
 No consequences; just permission
Where there are no consequences for the wrong behavior, then
there is permission to continue it.
 Truth doesn’t matter
Without accountability and permission to do whatever you want,
then there is no place for truth. Without truth there is no
foundation for right and wrong.
 Allows one to make wrong seem right
When “wrong” can be made to be “right,” the result is the loss
of values.
 Blame becomes an ok justification for behavior
When I can blame you and get by with it, why should I feel
responsible for what I did? That’s dangerous!!!
 Leaves pain and damage every where
Without accountability there is human destruction that can’t be
repaired!
 Establishes a sense of entitlement
Put all this together and you think I won’t feel entitled to do
whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it?
Let’s go back to our definition to Accountability:
Being responsible for your behavior and all the results that
behavior creates.
This raises a critical question: HOW DO YOU CREATE
ACCOUNTABILITY THAT HOLDS PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE
FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR?
11 STEPS!!!!!
STEP #1: ALWAYS HAVE RULES, AND YOU DON’T
COMPROMISE THEM
Rules have a purpose and that is to create guidelines; without there
being consistency with the rules, there are only words people don’t
believe in.
Rules:
P provide clear direction
O order is in place
W work with a set of clear understandings
E
R refuses to let “just anything” be ok
STEP #2: CONFRONT BEHAVIOR, DON’T AVOID IT
What you don’t confront you validate! Once you validate, it is no
longer the other person’s issue; they are only doing what you have
given them permission to do.
Confrontation:
P provides a pathway to resolution
O openly addresses cause for conversation
W won’t let things continue the way they are
E erases excuses and reasons; just facts
R refuses to let “just anything” be ok
STEP #3: CLEAR ON CONSEQUENCES AND DON’T BACK
DOWN
When people know you mean what you say, they listen. When they
listen, test and see you back down, their respect goes away and you just
become a joke!
Consequences:
P paints a clear picture of “what is” and what “will be”
O options are discussed
W whether you agree or not, this is what will happen
E ends any discussion about “what was done yesterday”
R refuses to let “just anything” be ok
STEP #4: OPEN WITH GENTLE FIRMNESS, BUT IF THAT
DOESN’T WORK MOVE TO STRICT DISCIPLINE
There must always be an understood approach to the situation, but
there must never be just one option. Start, but always be willing to
adapt as necessary.
Action:
P plan is in place
O open with one thought, but afraid to adapt
W willing to do what is necessary to face behavior
E expression is about how serious this is
R refuses to let “just anything” be ok
STEP #5: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES LET THEM TAKE
CONTROL
Whoever is in control, is creating the direction the conversation is
going. Remember, you don’t lose control; you give it away.
Maintaining Control:
P provides a manageable pace
O opinions replaced with facts
W won’t let distractions and detours happen
E energy remains positive
R refuses to let “just anything” be ok
STEP #6: NEVER LET “WRONG” BECOME “RIGHT”
There is always right and wrong; if wrong is made to sound right,
there is only a circle of confusion.
Right:
P pushes things forward, not in circles
O opinions replaced with facts
W won’t let negative take over
E enhances one’s foundation of beliefs
R refuses to let “just anything” be ok
STEP #7: TAKE NO EXCUSES
Excuses are designed to avoid taking responsibility; don’t let one
weasel out of being accountability for their behavior.
Allow No Excuses:
P provides a clear message of intent
O others not allowed to be reflection point
W wrongs not allowed to overshadow facts
E emotional outburst controlled
R refuses to let “just anything” be ok
STEP #8: AVOID GETTING TOO MANY ISSUES ON THE
TABLE
The more issues there are in front of you, the less there will be that
gets completed. Stay with the issue at hand!
Controlling The Number of Issue:
P provides a manageable pace
O order to the process is in place
W won’t let things get bogged down
E emotions can be focused on one issue
R refuses to let “just anything” be ok
STEP #9: BEHAVIOR MUST STATE THIS IS A SERIOUS
ISSUE, NOT MERELY A CONVERSATION.
Your mental, emotional and physical must say, in no uncertain terms,
that is not just a time to chat, but to confront a serious behavior.
Being Serious:
P provides a clear understanding of expected outcome
O openly shows this is not game
W works with facts, not opinion
E expressions show strength and take control
R refuses to let “just anything” be ok
STEP #10: LISTEN FOR THE RATIONALIZATIONS AND
THEN, ADDRESS THEM
An excuse that isn’t addressed becomes permission to continue.
Addressing Rationalizations:
P puts the emphasis on resolution
O openly calls behavior into question
W won’t let things drag on
E ends their ability to control through excuses
R refuses to let “just anything” be ok
STEP #11: ENTER WITH A “WHATEVER IT TAKES”
ATTITUDE TO GET THIS RESOLVED
If you don’t enter with the commitment to confront and resolve, you
will leave with things still needing to be addressed and completed.
“Whatever It Takes” Attitude:
P pushes toward resolution
O offers no escape route
W won’t settle for what is not right
E entertains suggestions, but not excuses
R refuses to let “just anything” be ok
Remember:
Accountability is:
Being responsible for your behavior and all the results that behavior
creates.
Closing Thought:
Holding one accountable for their behavior is both a visual and
vocal statement that says, “Your behavior is no longer acceptable
and will not be allowed to continue.” Remember, once you had held
them accountable for their behavior, you must be strong in carrying
through with holding them accountable. If you don’t, they are back
in control.