Accountability

Nobody likes to work with the feeling they must constantly look over their shoulder to see who’s watching. Even worse, the thought of being micromanaged brews up disgust in the pit of our stomach. Accountability is micromanagement’s less hated brother. Most people don’t like either of the two, but if you had to pick one to spend the day with, you’d probably pick accountability. The word ‘accountability’ raises all kinds of emotions for people. It also means different things to professionals, managers, and business owners. While everyone would agree that it is necessary on some level, we don’t really see eye to eye on what the terms should be. So, is accountability bad? No, but it is misunderstood. Accountability is a bridge to success, not a barrier. The phrase, “Trust, but verify” contradicts itself. However, “Verify and trust” makes a whole lot of sense. So, how can we shed the micromanagement stigma and put a positive spin on accountability and create more effective management styles?