Why accountability is my word of the year

Choosing a ‘word of the year’ can help you focus your mind and streamline what’s important to your business. This year, Gordon Jenkins, Growth Mentor and Global 200 Voice on Leadership has chosen ‘accountability’ as his word of the year and he explains why …

Each year I choose a word of the year and for 2023, ‘accountability’ jumped out to me.

Choosing a word of the year helps me to clarify and focus on who I want to be and what I want to accomplish in the next twelve months. It serves as a mental mentor for me.

Simply possessing a word is not enough. It does not mean that my journey through the rest of the year will be easy. It is, however, instilled in me on a daily basis as I question myself:

• Is my word of the year visible to me and my network?
• Am I continuously evaluating my behaviours to ensure they are consistent with the word?
• How does it affect my behaviours?
• How do I feel about it?
• How am I experiencing it?
• I am owning it?

I also made accountability my word of the year for 2022. There is no rule to say you can’t repeat the same word of the year. The question you need to be able to answer, though, is why?

I didn’t truly understand what it entailed. I went at it like a bull in a China shop, totally focused on my business, and crashed!  It’s taken 2022 to realise having a word of the year is a whole lot more than simply actions speaking louder than words.

I can now say with absolute clarity that accountability for me is about making a positive difference in my life – business AND personal. They are entwined in each other. Focusing on one without the other is like flying a plane without a destination in mind – lots of effort, don’t get anywhere and … crash.

I’m owning my choices, and the rewards (yes, accountability is all about reward) are accelerating my motivation to succeed.

Embedding a culture of accountability

Let us begin with a little narrative about four individuals who go by the names Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.

There was an essential task that needed to be completed. Everybody was invited to assist. Everybody was certain Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody was irritated since it was Everybody’s job. Everybody assumed Anybody could do it, but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

I’m not sure who wrote this tale initially, but every time I read it, I say to myself, who wants to work in this sort of culture? A culture of pointing the finger and blaming one another.

With a mindset of accountability, there is no blame. Individuals accept full responsibility for their actions and outcomes. To move forward we review, react and reset.

For too long, accountability has been adversely seen as focusing on someone else’s agenda, or a penalty for not doing something. It’s time to focus accountability towards generating innovation, creativity and collaboration. Unlocking your potential within and connecting to your intrinsic motivation for the greater good. To make a positive difference, every day.

I’m sure you’ve heard of Wordle, the game in which you must guess a word in six attempts. A friend highlighted his children’s school ride-sharing programme. Everyone is playing Wordle, competing to see who can build the longest string, which families can make the longest string, and whose ride-shares have the longest combined string.

It’s all in good fun, but at the heart of the game is accountability. If you miss one day, your string will be cut off. Accountability. There is no hierarchy, and everyone is aware of their particular responsibilities.

Above all, the friend stated that everyone is assisting one another, exchanging information and communicating. Indeed, ride-sharing has evolved into something to look forward to at the start and end of the day, rather than a time-sink for parents.

How to foster a healthy accountability culture

My success is centred around assisting others to making a difference and, in doing so, having a good influence on those around them – creating a better culture. People-blaming does not produce amazing results; accountability, on the other hand, does.

I see accountability in a very different perspective to blame.

A culture of accountability fosters strong morale, allowing people to take responsibility for their own situations and to take pleasure in their work, and allowing leaders to picture their vision becoming reality.

According to the Harvard Business Review, in 2020, 82 per cent of executives admitted to having “little to no” capacity to properly hold others responsible. According to Gallup, just 14 per cent of employees believe their performance is handled in a way that encourages them. It’s no wonder that 69 per cent of employees don’t believe they’re living up to their potential at work.

In a previous study, 91 per cent of respondents indicated “increasing the ability to hold people responsible in an effective way” is one of their organisation’s top leadership development priorities.

There are numerous ways to reap the benefits of an accountable mindset, both professionally and in your personal life. One of the biggest tricks I’ve learned in the last 12 months is creating a habit over 21 days. It’s enough time for me to get into a routine. It takes me around another 69 days for it to become a way of life for me –  yes, there is a reason why you see a lot of 90-day programs advertised!

Work it out – in 12 months there is the potential to create 17 positive habits – amazing, isn’t it?

Additionally, you may consider:

1. Practice what you teach – be open and honest about the activities you have committed to.
2. Establish the metrics – upfront, quantifiable and unmodifiable, based on substantial intelligent data rather than emotion.
3. Level playing field – everyone in the business participates in the same accountability ‘game’.
4. Accept both positive and negative feedback (providing it is done with a positive intent).
5. Make it a habit – exchange accountability updates with a buddy or in a team.

Overall, being accountable creates intrigue and compels others to seek you out. Why? It provides the only avenue where you can demonstrate your liberty and ownership.

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