{"id":6246,"date":"2024-01-23T06:48:29","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T10:48:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/the-rise-of-excuses-and-the-decline-of-accountability\/"},"modified":"2024-01-23T06:48:29","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T10:48:29","slug":"the-rise-of-excuses-and-the-decline-of-accountability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/the-rise-of-excuses-and-the-decline-of-accountability\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rise of Excuses and the Decline of Accountability"},"content":{"rendered":"

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President Harry S. Truman famously said, \u201cThe buck stops here,\u201d meaning he accepted full responsibility<\/a> for his decisions and had no intention of shifting the blame to others. That said, many people today treat accountability like a hot potato. They seek recognition when things go well but disassociate themselves entirely when faced with setbacks. Do accept accountability or make excuses?<\/p>\n

If you ask for responsibility, you must be willing to be held accountable.<\/p>\n

Why Most Accountability Falls Short<\/h3>\n

When someone grants responsibility, they\u2019re paying you a compliment. They\u2019re implying that they have the confidence in you to get the job done right. When you accept that challenge, you\u2019re indicating that you\u2019ll do everything in your power to achieve a positive outcome \u2014 and you expect to be held accountable for the results.<\/p>\n

There are people who want no part of that. They shun accountability at every turn. In fact, some people don\u2019t want to be evaluated. They expect to be rewarded whatever the outcome. Other folks shun accountability because they weren\u2019t involved upfront, and think the goals are unrealistic. Others are given responsibility but told exactly what to do. They don\u2019t think they have the freedom, much less the authority, to affect the outcome.<\/p>\n

Most accountability falls short due to 15 factors:<\/p>\n

Vague performance standards.<\/strong><\/span> Before making someone accountable, clearly define the task, the rationale, and the timetable required to complete it. Otherwise, people are left guessing.<\/p>\n

Ambiguous expectations.<\/strong><\/span> Indicate how success will be measured or folks will define it for themselves.<\/p>\n

Lack of commitment.<\/strong><\/span> Instead of exercising authority<\/em> and control<\/em>, secure commitment<\/em><\/a> by involving folks in the decision-making process and obtaining mutually agreed-upon goals.<\/p>\n

Scarce resources.<\/strong><\/span> Provide the resources required to get the job done right.<\/p>\n

Low levels of trust.<\/strong><\/span> Instead of micromanaging everything that people do, trust them to do what\u2019s right. Delegate<\/a> authority not just tasks. And, let them choose how they\u2019ll achieve their goals. That way there\u2019ll be no excuses.<\/p>\n

Lacking consistency. <\/strong><\/span>If priorities aren\u2019t emphasized through consistent<\/em> words<\/em> and actions<\/em> people will work at cross-purposes.<\/p>\n

Forgetting your role.<\/strong><\/span> Don\u2019t blur the line between being a manager and trying to be a friend.<\/p>\n

Limited feedback.<\/strong><\/span> You can\u2019t address your weaknesses if you\u2019re blind to your flaws. Feedback enables you to learn\u00a0about your shortcomings and take corrective action.<\/p>\n

Shaming people in public.<\/strong> <\/span>The best way to promote fear is to embarrass people in public. That said, folks should be praised<\/em> in public and criticized<\/em> in private.<\/p>\n

Forgetting what\u2019s important.<\/strong><\/span> As the famous clich\u00e9 says, \u201cWhat gets measured gets done.<\/em>\u201d So, ask yourself, \u201cWhat counts that we\u2019re not counting?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lacking follow-up.<\/strong><\/span> It\u2019s not enough to establish goals and objectives. Progress<\/em> must be evaluated on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

Poor incentives.<\/strong><\/span> If you want excellence, you must recognize and reward it. Period. People stop trying when there\u2019s no benefit for being exceptional and no consequence for being mediocre. In addition, if rewards don\u2019t reinforce your goals, it will be difficult to keep folks on track.<\/p>\n

Giving folks a free ride.<\/strong><\/span> Giving people a free pass is a recipe for disaster. It lulls them into a false sense of security and complacency.<\/p>\n

Enabling unacceptable behavior.<\/span> <\/strong>When poor behavior isn\u2019t challenged, it becomes acceptable to act in an unacceptable way.<\/p>\n

Failing to hold people accountable.<\/span> <\/strong>Some people escape scrutiny by making excuses or casting blame<\/a>. And before you know it, others follow suit.<\/p>\n

You Are Accountable to Yourself<\/h3>\n

Some people dislike accountability because it places them front and center \u2014 setting them up to become a hero or a villain. So, they dream up a plan full of excuses to protect themselves if things go awry. The problem is that they spend more time anticipating potential failures than focusing on making the effort successful.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, while you may answer to others, you\u2019re ultimately accountable to yourself. That means honoring your commitments<\/a> and living up to the standards that you<\/em> set for yourself. That doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019ll always be successful, but at least you\u2019ll know that you gave it your best shot. And nobody can take that away from you. When you have the courage<\/a> and confidence to put yourself on the line, you will earn the trust, respect, and admiration of others. But most of all, you will earn the respect of yourself.<\/p>\n

LISTEN UP \u2026\u00a0\u00a0Listen to Your Conscience. That\u2019s Why You Have One<\/em>\u00a0is now available as an audiobook. Check it out on\u00a0,\u00a0, or\u00a0iTunes<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

How Do You Feel About Excuses?<\/h3>\n

Please leave a\u00a0comment<\/a>\u00a0and tell us what you think or\u00a0share it with someone who can benefit from the\u00a0information.<\/b><\/p>\n

Additional Reading:
20 Choices That Will Determine Your Destiny<\/a>
Why Work If You Don\u2019t Have To?<\/a>
It\u2019s Your Life to Live. Own It!<\/a>
Are You Doing Your Fair Share?<\/a>
Is Self-Reliance More Than a Buzzword?<\/a>
Do You Have A Strong Work Ethic?<\/a>
Nobody Can Do This, Except You<\/a><\/p>\n

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