The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months

Chapter 8

Accountability as Ownership

Accountability is perhaps the most misunderstood concept in business and life. Most people equate it with bad behavior, poor performance, and negative consequences. As an example, when an athlete does something in violation of the league’s conduct policy, the commissioner will state publicly that the league will hold this athlete accountable and then issues a fine or suspension. It’s no wonder that most people want nothing to do with accountability.

“Our last free act—after which no further free acts are possible—is to deny that we are free.”

—Peter Koestenbaum

People often talk about holding others accountable, especially in business situations. Often you’ll hear management say something like, “We need to do a better job of holding people accountable.” I’ve even heard individuals who truly desire to perform better say, “I just need someone to hold me accountable.” 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. In fact, it is impossible to hold someone else accountable. I like to joke that you can hold a baby and you can hold a bag of groceries, but you can’t hold someone accountable.

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. In the book Freedom and Accountability at Work: Applying Philosophic Insight ...