What is Accountability?

I hear so many people talk about ‘accountability’ in the work place…. “who is accountable?”… “holding people to account”…and so on….

Given there are a number of interpretations lets think about what accountability really means.

It essence it means OWNERSHIP - but again, that’s quite an abstract concept so we can break it down further. 

As a leader or middle-manager in an organisation, accountability will flow up and down. You’ll be both of the following:

 👆Accountable TO someone – your superiors who expect results and outcomes.

 👇Accountable FOR someone – your team, whom you guide, support, and set expectations. 

Being accountable TO your leaders means that they are accountable FOR you. In the same way you are accountable FOR your team, and they are accountable TO you. 

Being accountable TO someone means that you follow to the standards and expectations they set - be it hitting deadlines, hours of work, completion of tasks. 

Being accountable FOR someone means that you set those standards of expected behaviour and performance.  But it also means something else…

Being accountable FOR your team means not only holding them to high standards but also owning the risks they all operate under. You own the outcomes and the risks - so that when your team succeeds, you all share the glory. But when they stumble, it’s solely your responsibility.

Think of this as a metaphorical umbrella. You shield and protect your teams from the weather - politics and uncertainty from above - keeping them safe and focussed on what they need to do. 

So when a large failure occurs, it’s solely on you. You may recall General Stanley McChrystal, who was forced to resign after a member of his team made a significant misstep. A reporter was allowed in to capture unguarded comments that made international headlines. Yet he understood that as a leader, it was his duty to protect his team from the political storms above. So he did the honourable thing and resigned, even though he wasn’t directly responsible for the error. 

So as a leader - are you an umbrella? Do you protect your team from the challenges they face, or do you leave them to weather the storm alone?