2. Driving a Culture of Accountability
Accountability is a key component of project mgt and accountable people are key to an accountable organization.
Driving a Culture of Accountability
You've recently joined a team working on a project to develop and implement an upgraded inventory control system for your organization. When you learn that your former team member Joe had been on this team, you call him to discuss his experiences on the project.
After listening to his account of his project involvement, you explain that you and three other people have been asked to develop the new manual. You ask him whether, in view of his knowledge of the project’s history, he’d be willing to do you a favor and write a draft of Chapter 1 of the manual that recounts the system’s background and evolution.
Today is Monday, and you explain you need the draft by a week from Friday. Joe agrees, and you both hang up. You never receive the draft of from Joe. He never calls you to explain why he didn’t submit the draft, and you never check on his progress.
Unfortunately, too many times people promise to help you out but don’t deliver. You have to find ways to hold people accountable when they make agreements to complete assignments for you — even if you have no direct authority over them.
Although Joe is responsible for preparing the draft, you aren’t off the hook. Your responsibility to prepare the users’ manual hasn’t changed, but Joe accepted the responsibility to prepare the Chapter 1. That Joe no longer works on the project or that he doesn’t report to you is beside the point. He’s responsible because he said he would be.
Joe may argue that he has a personal obligation to complete the draft (because he said he would) but no organizational obligation because the agreement wasn’t in writing and he wasn’t officially on your project team. That argument doesn’t hold up, though; he’s responsible because he said he would be.

3. What Is An Accountable Organization?
Accountable people ask for help BEFORE a crisis occurs
Accountable people take responsibility for projects and problems within their areas of responsibility.

4. Personal Accountability
If there’s 100% ACCOUNTABILITY available, what part do you give?
Personal Accountability is the willingness to accept responsibility for the outcomes and results expected of you: an obligation to account for your actions.

5. Have you heard or said one of the phrases shown within the last month?
It was another department-I stay in my lane.
It wasn't my idea.
It's not my fault.
That’s not my job!
There’s nothing I could have done about it.

6. You don’t need magic powers to improve how people perceive you
You don’t need magic powers to improve how people perceive you. You can transform your image by choosing to be more accountable.

7. Accountability means I point at ME!

9. Being Accountable Gives us more control over ourselves
Helps us learn from our mistakes
Improves our project results
Prevents us from getting stuck in the past

10. Elements of Accountability Do you possess them?
What kind of people are on your team?
Commitment and Dedication
Ability to Overcome Obstacles
Willingness to Take Responsibility for Your Role in Outcomes
Openness to Improvement

11. Shifting Accountability Hurts More Than It Helps!
Blaming, Shaming, Finger-Pointing

12. Blame Game Rules
No. 1: Never blame someone who has a better excuse than you.

13. No. 2: Always be prepared to pass the buck, pin the blame or point the finger; particularly when its really your fault.

14. No. 3: Remember, a good excuse can be as good as getting the result.
Find a good scapegoat

15. No. 4: Always remember the quality of an excuse increases proportionately with the degree to which the “reason” is outside of your control.

16. No. 5: When all else fails—admit your guilt and blame your childhood.

17. “Blame Game” It was the other department. It wasn't my idea.
Wait and See
Confusion/Tell me what to do
It’s not my job
Ignore/deny
Finger pointing
Cover your tail
It was the other department.
It wasn't my idea.
My boss doesn't…..
My boss interferes too much.
It's Not my fault!
It's somebody else’s job!
What could I have done to make that situation better?

18. Activity 5-Minute Story Swap
Think about a story from your experience that sounds like the Blame Game.
Stand up, turn around, and introduce yourself to someone you don’t know.
Take turns sharing stories and things people said. Use aliases. Do not throw anyone “under the bus.”
Pair up 4 minutes
In your org what does it look like, what do hear, how do they react
Imagine you have a team member who committed to completing a task by noon. It’s now one in the afternoon and you realize he hasn’t started working on what you agreed to.
How would you address the situation?

19. Accountable people focus their energy on coming up with solutions and learning from mistakes

20. Cycle of Accountability
Keep yourself “seeing, owning, solving, and doing” until you achieve the desired results. 3 4 1 2 5
Celebrate It
See It
Do It
Own It
Solve It

21. Cycle of Accountability
See It
Obtaining the perspectives of others
Communicating openly and candidly
Asking for and offering feedback
Hearing the hard things to see reality 5 1 4 2 3

22. Cycle of Accountability
Own It
Being personally invested
Learning from both successes and failures
Aligning my work with desired results
Acting on the feedback that I receive 5 1 4 2 3

23. Cycle of Accountability
Solve It
Constantly asking, “What else can I do?”
Overcoming cross- functional boundaries
Creatively dealing with obstacles
Taking the necessary risks 5 1 4 2 3

24. Cycle of Accountability
It’s about overcoming circumstances, accepting responsibility, and achieving results
Do It
Doing the things I say I’ll do
Focusing on the top priorities
Avoiding blaming others
Creating and sustaining an environment of trust 5 1 4 2 3

25. Cycle of Accountability
Celebrate It Here
Celebrate milestones
Be quick to recognize the efforts of others
Appreciate each individual
Congratulate publicly
Motivate and build momentum for next project
Remind team that your process works
Remind team members that they are winners 5 1 4 2 3
Don’t just say, “good job” and go back to your office. Make it a practice to celebrate every WIN (mb)
Too often, leaders immediately move to the next task. How do you celebrate SUCCESS? (mb)

26. Good to GREAT Accumulated Wisdom Exercise
What separates great organizations from mediocre ones?
Mediocre ones “explain away the brutal facts rather than to confront the brutal facts head-on”
Good to GREAT Accumulated Wisdom Exercise

27. How do you feel when someone holds you accountable?

28. Accountability takes place when leaders INSPECT what they EXPECT

29. The Wrong Questions Have you ever heard anyone say
Instead, what if we heard
When are they going to get it right?
Why don’t those people communicate better?
Who messed up? Who dropped the ball?
Why does this always happen to me?
Are these people ever going to do what they say they will do?

30. Rewrite for accountability.
My alarm clock didn’t go off.

31. Rewrite for accountability.
The baby kept me up all night.

32. Rewrite for accountability.
My car wouldn’t start.

33. Rewrite for accountability.
I had to take a phone call.

34. Imagine you have a coworker who committed to completing a task by noon
Imagine you have a coworker who committed to completing a task by noon. It’s now one in the afternoon and you realize he hasn’t started working on what you agreed to. How would you address the situation?

35. Accountable Language
How do you address team members who are not acting responsible for their own actions?
What are some different approaches that reflect respectfulness while emphasizing accountability?

36. Holding Others Accountable How can you hold others ACCOUNTABLE if you are not their leader?
Empathize
Support
Follow-up
Recognize

37. It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities.
- Sir Josiah Stamp

38. How The Accident Happened...
“The telephone pole was approaching fast. I was attempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front.”
“The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go so I ran him over.”

39. How The Accident Happened...
“The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.”
“I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment.”

40. Learn all you can from the mistakes of others
Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won't have time to make them all yourself.
-Alfred Sheinwold

41. Accountability Buddy
I’ll help you stay on course!
Choose an “accountability buddy” to check in, discuss goals, and recognize milestones.

42. Table Talk: Report Out
How would your work and life change if you held yourself more accountable?
What one thing could you do immediately to hold yourself more accountable at work or in life?

43. Accountability Planning
Process pays enormous dividends
What things will you Start?
What will you Stop?
What will you Continue?
START? STOP? CONTINUE?

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