Quiz: Are you accountable?
My last two years of college was group work. Group assignments, group research, group evaluations. I was not a fan! My groups didn’t always work well together and some people were not responsible. Often times I was pulling more weight than my team. I felt it was easier to account for my grade alone.
Then I got my first job out of college and into the “real world” and that changed my thought process. Today, my entire career is based on teamwork. I love it! Truth is, working as part of a team is just as much about finding a way to make it work for you individually as it is about contributing to the overall team and its success. It boils down to accountability, personal responsibility and self-discipline.
Several years ago, one of my mentors told me one of the best ways to increase self-discipline and accountability in my career was to keep finding different ways to motivate myself and hold myself accountable.
So, with the help of colleagues and mentors, I’ve created this list of questions to ask yourself to help determine if you are an accountable person.
Do you set micro-goals? (I like to think of micro-goals as a single action that, when accomplished, serves as a building block to a much larger goal.)
Do you make to-do lists?
Do you reward yourself when you do a job well?
Do you do one task at a time?
Do you emphasize your strengths, work to improve your weaknesses?
Do you seek feedback?
Are you responsible whether the results are good or bad?
Do you tell the truth? (No one is perfect, but trying to cover up a mistake only makes it worse.)
According to my mentor, if you answered “yes” to most of these questions, you are more than likely accountable. You don’t blame others, make excuses and procrastinate. You don’t just do the minimum, you exceed expectations. You get things done. You like checklists and enjoy evaluating results. Unaccountable people are quick to complain and slow to act.
How do you stay accountable in your job, in life? Share below. Join the conversation.
Trish Skram is a communications professional who works at Mercy Health System in Janesville and writes about Janesville's professional community. Trish is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff. Her opinion is not necessarily that of the The Gazette staff or management.
Mar 9, 2011 at 4:54 p.m.
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Beam me up, Scotty.
Mar 9, 2011 at 1:23 p.m.
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Im always happy. I also did not know you could pick up emotions from text. Dont let your perception hinder your thoughts.
Mar 9, 2011 at 12:57 p.m.
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skinnypuppy-I do lists as well. I will even add to the list something I have already completed if it wasn't on the list in the first place just to cross it off right away.
Sometimes they get messy and I will rewrite the list.
Reward - haha every day with a margarita !)
Sigma - it seems you need some happy pills!
Mar 9, 2011 at 11:26 a.m.
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Relevant: Definition- 1. having direct bearing on the matter in hand. 2. another word for distinctive.
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Just because the word "Accountability" has the word "Account" in it... does not mean they have anything to do with each other. Nor can it be compared to "Accounting".
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Another example of how our education system ia a failure. Look what everyone thinks. Where did you learn this? ...or did not shal I say.
Mar 9, 2011 at 10:23 a.m.
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In all fairness, although they do not fit the definition of accountability, many of these attributes would be helpful in leading toward accountability and that is enough to make them relevant to the premise.
Mar 9, 2011 at 9:59 a.m.
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I think having to do lists and having goals to work towards helps people be accountable. They then have responsibility for reaching the goal and it is only them that can take the blame if they don't reach it.
Mar 9, 2011 at 9:26 a.m.
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Like i've mentioned in previous posts....most people do not even know what personal accountability is. :)
Mar 9, 2011 at 9:22 a.m.
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Seeking rewards for good work done does not show accountability. Neither does getting it done on time....that is more being punctual and managing. The list above doesnt have much to do with being accountable.
1. Irrelevant
2. Irrelevant
3. Irrelevant
4. Irrelevant
5. Irrelevant
6. Irrelevant
7. *Bingo!
8. *Bingo!
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Being accountable means taking responsibility for your own actions and being able to explain them. Never passing blame or pointing fingers.
It has nothing to do with lists, rewards, multi-tasking, feedback, or your strengths/weaknesses.
Mar 9, 2011 at 9:11 a.m.
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I love this...Working together as a team and having goals to work towards makes work that much more rewarding in the end.
Mar 9, 2011 at 8:11 a.m.
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yes , yes, yes and yes I am very proud of the work I do and the fact that I get it done on time and take full credit for it. I take my reward in the form of a Job well done.
Mar 8, 2011 at 3:20 p.m.
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SkinnyPuppy - I too, write out to-do lists! I make them daily for work and weekly for home. They help keep me organized, productive and accountable. I hear HipCal, online calendar, provides a nice task manager and allows you to add new tasks along with due-dates, priority, and alerts. Google Calendar To Do List is a good one too.
Thanks for leaving a comment.
Mar 8, 2011 at 2:50 p.m.
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“Perhaps nothing in our society is more needed for those in positions of authority than accountability.
Too often those with authority are able (and willing) to surround themselves with people who support their decisions without question.”
Mar 8, 2011 at 2:27 p.m.
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Are we still referring to a poplulation percentage or is that a blood alcohol content?
Mar 8, 2011 at 2:10 p.m.
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I LOVE "to do" lists and my "reward" is getting to cross the item off the list...oddly, it makes me so happy! Then, when 1/2 the list is complete, I rewrite my smaller list and begin again...And it isn't as fattening as rewarding myself with chocolate :)
Mar 8, 2011 at 2:05 p.m.
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Im happy to be part of that .1% :)
Mar 8, 2011 at 1:54 p.m.
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We are just waiting for the other 0.1% to enlighten us.
Mar 8, 2011 at 11:48 a.m.
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99.9% of the USA is not...as a matter of fact they dont even know what personal accountability is.
Mar 8, 2011 at 10:52 a.m.
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whoa.....deep
Mar 8, 2011 at 10:05 a.m.
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“I am lord of myself, accountable to none”
- Benjamin Franklin.
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