Are You Accountable?

Accountability.

Our American independence revolts at the idea of this word.

I think sometimes we assume that the more autonomy you have in your job the less accountable you need to be.

I believe the reverse is true – as your responsibility increases so does your accountability.

We are all accountable to someone.

• If you are alive, you’re accountable to a family member (except perhaps in some extreme case of loss or dysfunction)
• If you are married, you’re accountable to your spouse
• If you have a job, you’re accountable to your boss
• If you are a pastor, you’re accountable to your governing structure and/or your congregation
• If you are a business owner, you’re accountable to your customers
• We’re all accountable to God

Key Components of Accountability:

1) Communication

Communication is powerful.  If you are being diligent to keep whomever you are accountable to informed of necessary information (good or bad), you will earn their trust and respect.  If you fail to do this you leave a gap of distrust.

2) Respect

It’s about respect.  If you don’t give it, you most likely won’t receive it.  If you’re not accountable, you’ll probably be micro-managed.  Our culture tends to scream in opposition to micro-management, but I think more often than not, we bring it on ourselves.  If we are not being accountable and informing those whose authority we are under, we leave them no choice but to micro-manage us.

How do you feel about accountability?  What makes you want to be accountable?  What causes you to resist accountability?