Aye King! The reality is everything you have control of is your “fault”. You can choose your choices but you can’t choose your consequences. We all make mistakes because, after all, the only flawless being is Jesus. What truly matters is how we react to our mistakes and the results they bring.
One evening, out of the blue, one of the homies from my group chat sent the image below into our chat and inquired about our thoughts. This led to a lively discussion on the subject of accountability, sparking some enlightening ideas and real-life examples. I thought it was a fantastic opportunity to delve deeper into this topic on the Expose Your Manhood blog. Let’s get started and discuss Effective Accountability in Personal and Professional Life!
Let me Expose Your Manhood as it pertains to accountability
In society, accountability is often misunderstood as a type of punishment. When men take responsibility for something they’ve done wrong, they may perceive it as embarrassing because it means they didn’t fulfill their commitments or their actions didn’t yield the expected results. So to save face, they are taught things like never admitting fault, avoiding apologies, and certainly not taking the blame but finding an excuse and shifting blame to someone or something else. What if I told you that’s not the case my brothers? Accountability is important!
Why is accountability important?
Accountability is for YOU! You hold the power when you take accountability for your actions. There is a quote by Wes Fessler that says “Good men are bound by conscience and liberated by accountability”. Being accountable shows that you are a man of good character. Owning the consequences of your actions can help you become self-aware, humble, disciplined, and mindful of others.
In his lifetime, a man has many opportunities to practice accountability as we do tend to mess up from time to time. Holding oneself accountable is a crucial skill for personal and professional growth.
How can you be accountable in your personal life?
Have you ever realized how many people are affected by your actions or lack of actions? Accountability is all about your actions and who it affects. As men, we are accountable to God, to our wives, our kids, our siblings, our friends, our colleagues, our mentors, and the list goes on. We should embrace accountability not be embarrassed by accountability. So when we are being accountable for an action or inaction our apology, or how we own up to it should be clear with a full stop and not a “but” followed by a weak explanation.
There are people in your personal life that you are going to disappoint. You are going to fall short of expectations, you are going to hurt the ones you love most. The best thing to do in that scenario is to stand on business in real life and be accountable for those actions. The simple way I believe to be accountable to our loved ones despite our intentions is to acknowledge our faults, apologize, and take action. When we take time to understand why the person may be feeling that way, and humble ourselves to know that we can be wrong we start the process of taking accountability. When you are accountable the apology ends with a full stop and resumes with behavior change. It does not end with a “but” and an explanation or justification. Accountability transcends just your personal life. What about accountability in your professional life?
How can you be accountable in your professional life?
Whether you’re a 9-to-5er, entrepreneur, or somewhere in between, accountability transcends just your personal life and is just as important in your professional life. Accountability in your professional life can be the very thing that separates you from a professional life of success and one of mediocrity. In our professional lives, we may be accountable to our managers, fellow employees, clients, governing bodies, investors, etc. Accountability in our professional lives means taking responsibility for our professional actions, decisions, and outcomes. Accountability in our professional lives may not be an individual sport but a team sport, as we work in teams, our teams may be held accountable as a group for completing a task, behavior, or other aspects. As discussed before, accountability in your professional life is not punishment, it does not mean you have someone hovering over you to make sure you get your tasks done, but it’s a decision that you are going to commit to getting things done properly and if you do slip up that you are willing to take responsibility for not completing the task. You are willing to accept the consequences of any action or inaction without shifting blame (especially if you’re a leader). Remember that Accountability is a mindset and a habit that takes time to develop. It’s not just about meeting external expectations but also about taking pride in your work and holding yourself to your own standards of excellence. This leads me to my next point. The most important form of accountability is holding ourselves accountable.
Accountability to oneself!
We as individuals are complex beings and we experience different emotions, different phases in life, and so on. Holding oneself accountable is a crucial skill for personal and professional growth. Here is a compilation of strategies for Effective Accountability in Personal and Professional Life:
- Embrace Emotional Accountability: Dedicate time to reflect and comprehend the origins of your feelings. Consider how these emotions influence your decisions and actions.
- Cultivate Humility: Recognize your humanity, understanding that making mistakes is inevitable and is a part of life.
- Uphold Integrity: Ensure that your character remains consistent across different circumstances. Be a person of good character with strong morals and values in all aspects of your life.
We need Effective Accountability in Personal and Professional Life to help us remain on track and successful in our everyday lives. Dr. Eric Thomas has a simple quote where he says “You Owe You!” I believe whether it be professional life or personal life we all have the responsibility to hold ourselves accountable for our actions and inactions.
“Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to the result” – Bob Proctor
The little Engineer that could! Ryian Williams, wears multiple hats as a husband, father, author, speaker, and engineer. Driven by his enthusiasm for coaching and uplifting men, he has embraced the lifelong mission of guiding men toward becoming the most authentic versions of themselves
Spilling gems bro #factsonly
You’ve hit the nail on the head. Accountability is a major stage in personal growth.
I love how accountability shouldn’t be perceived as embarrassment. It shows growth, care and courage.
The broken egg picture is dope!