This video describes how one of the best CEO's in the past 20 years handled the subject of accountability, and the story below illustrates the importance of accountability, both personally and professionally. Guard your core by making yourself accountable to others!
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Not long ago I met with a senior executive of a large U.S. corporation to discuss the topic of accountability and how to hold his team accountable for the results they committed to achieve in 2015. We also talked about the difference between task accountability (for example, achieving financial metrics) and personal accountability (how I act). Both are critically important in today’s workplace.
My client became quiet and sat thoughtfully for a moment. He then looked at me and said that several months earlier he seriously considered having an affair with one of his direct reports. In a brief conversation late one afternoon at the office, she made her interest unmistakably clear.
Things were a bit rocky at home at that time, and he struggled with whether or not to accept the invitation. He told me that he finally came to his senses and steered clear of a certain disaster.
“I understand that both types of accountability are important, but personal accountability is not something we talk about here. It would have been great to have someone tell me I was crazy for even considering the invitation and to get my head on straight.”
