Once in a while, I receive questions which seem to be a question of clarifying the meaning of a concept, but actually require to position myself as there is no simple answer to it. The same is true for accountability and responsibility. Glad you asked Elco.
In my mind, accountability, as well as responsibility, have a connotation I like. They both connect with knowing what one stands for.
At the same time, they often appear in a questionable context and earn little appreciation.
Accountability for example may appear as being driven by the idea to control how a result is being achieved. It involves being forced to do something and being punished when failing to achieve it. This is especially true when it is in the context of the performance-driven economy.
Responsibility on the other hand often pops up when there is a problem and a search for the one who created the problem is on. Typically seen when the CEO takes responsibility and leaves the company. Or when the soccer coach is made responsible for the team’s results and has to leave. It locates responsibility in an area of obligation more than commitment.
But, what are they for?
Responsibility is how I generate a sense of ownership of what I’m seeking to achieve.
It is linked to a sense of having duty just as much as it is based on one’s own authority. Responsibility is based on an inside locus of control. It is a commitment and a choice to engage in a task in a manner that I’ll do what it takes to succeed. But also to do so without committing my sense of responsibility for who I am.
Responsibility isn’t a reason to make it my failure if I don’t succeed. It is independent of dealing with failure and errors. That is the task of learning. As a side note, learning may be a responsible way of dealing with the situation when the success achieved doesn’t correspond to the one, one felt responsible for.
Accountability on the other hand is a way of engaging in doing the task. It creates space for reviewing and seeing the progress with others. Accountability is the way we can tell the story of how the work is being done as much as engaging others to share the story with us.
It does add an external locus of control. One that is of our choosing. One that is there to serve us and can be used to serve those cooperating in the work. They will not only see what is being done but will also contribute to the work with their reactions and their learning of the progress.
Responsibility is about showing up to oneself. Accountability is about connecting with others and showing up together. It works when we know what we stand for.
