A New Age of Accountability

Introduction

Before I start, let me just say, I’m a self-professed Gen-Xer but this won’t be a rant about Millennials.  What this will be about is what I’ve experienced in the workplace and I don’t think it’s a turn for the better.

Follow-through vs. Follow-up

Let’s get terminology straight first.  Follow-through is completion of tasks assigned to you.  However, follow-up is when someone checks on the status of the tasks assigned to you.  Follow-up is really only necessary for those who don’t follow-through.  Pure and simple.

What’s Going On Here?

The event below actually happened.

During the effort in question, the project plan was shared with all actors on the project, with associated responsibilities for deliverables.  Additionally, status meetings were scheduled on a weekly basis with key stakeholders and key deliverable review dates were provided early in the project well ahead of the needed/scheduled date for the end result.

Despite numerous calls (follow-up) on action for completion of the document review, there was consistent delays in the delivery of the reviewed documentation but with no real apparent cause for the delay.

The lack of follow-through pushed the project schedule to a point where the company was ultimately exposed to compliance-related concerns and potential fines.

What bubbled up after this?  A complaint about lack of follow-up.  However, where did the actual accountability lie?  It lied in follow-through.

Scapegoating (blame-gaming)?

Forgive me, but I couldn’t pass it up.  Blame game.  There it is.  Let’s simply drop all accountability for completion of the deliverable into the lap of the person who the deliverable is owed to or is owed at least the status of that deliverable.

It’s Not My Fault

This has become more and more the litany of the underachiever.  And I’m once again NOT talking about Millennials.  You can see it everywhere.  That person cost me the promotion.  This system is keeping me from getting ahead. I don’t have time.

Who Are We Accountable To?

Leaving out the matter of faith, who are we accountable to?  If you think on it, you may realize that you are only accountable to yourself and anyone else that you make yourself accountable to.

Let’s examine that.  You choose whoever you make yourself accountable to.  So, who would that be?

It’s your employer.  You are trading your output/productivity for compensation thus making yourself accountable for the responsibilities delegated to you.

Maybe, it’s your significant other.  Do I need to explain?

It’s your kids, if you have any.  This one is more obvious than that previous example.

But in the end you are only accountable to yourself.  And to steal a phrase from “The Red Circle” by Brandon Tyler, “Excellence matters.”  Before I go on, there’s no expectation that everyone should be 100% on ALL THE TIME.  But seriously, if you don’t have time to do it over, you only have time to do it right, on time, within budget.  Did that sound familiar, like the Triple Constraint, maybe?

None Of This Is Easy

But nothing worth achieving should be easy.  Enough of the “Ra Ra Hooyah” though.  Personal accountability and introspection are insanely difficult.  But that is what it takes to consistently focus on follow-through.

And what does that make you?  In the right environment, a true meritocracy, you’re the go-to person.  

Your path to business success.