The Change Dude’s Blog

The End of Accountability!

Is nobody responsible for anything anymore? Just a thought. In my consulting practice, I’ve noticed a worrying trend of people shrugging off accountability for even the simplest stuff. Forgot about the meeting? Didn’t the dozen reminders do the trick? And don’t get me started on how appointments can be changed at the drop of a hat. Seriously? Your time is more precious than mine? I’ve committed, I’ll be there. Meanwhile, others treat appointments like they’re rearranging furniture.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t finish the task because of reasons.” The dog ate my homework is so last year; now it’s all about blaming external circumstances. Really? Basically, the task was just less important than something else that popped up.

Performance reviews these days? They’re more about dodging legal bullets than actually reviewing performance. Sports teams don’t have to perform until some end-of-season showdown. I could go on, but you get the gist.

We’ve lost the vital ingredient for success in anything: the willingness to be accountable for what we commit to. When we agree to do something by a certain time, we should stick to it. But these days, commitments are more like “I’ll kind of get it done.”

I’m ranting about this because it’s everywhere. I’ll do my part and then hear a laundry list of excuses from others. It’s just a lack of respect for others, plain and simple.

Let’s make a big change in behavior. You could just join the crowd and ignore accountability.

Even better, let’s all hold each other accountable for what we commit to. Respect your own responsibilities and make commitments you can keep. If something comes up and you need to change a commitment, respect others’ time and energy by communicating and agreeing on a change. Simple!

Bring back accountability! #beaccountable

February 26, 2024 - Posted by thechangedude | Uncategorized