JKL Associates – Business & Talent Builders Blog!

September 22, 2011 – ISSN# 1545-2646

Ask anyone and they will tell you with great conviction that they are fully accountable for their actions.  The challenge is what defines the criteria or standards by which they hold themselves accountable.

On a broader sense, what has our society been duped into believing are the standards of accountability these days. What reference points can our future generations look at to find a reasonable resemblance of accountability.

Dare I say that eventually the word accountability could be dropped from the dictionary because it no longer has a definition or meaning?  Maybe it will just be replaced with a more neutral, less demanding definition.

If you were to look up accountability right now you would find:

the quality or state of being accountable; especially : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions.

Look at the word “Obligation” – do people even do such a thing anymore?

The new evolving definition might be – do what ever you think to be OK and don’t get caught by someone that still has standards of right and wrong.

I bring all this up because on a daily basis I see owners of businesses lowering their accountability standards.  They justify it in their own minds by coming up with such phrases as – can’t find good help, the industry I’m in does not attract quality people, all the good people are working somewhere else etc.

As business leaders, STOP and think about these excuses.  If the best are working somewhere else then why?  Maybe it is because your organization does not adhere to standards of accountability.  Maybe it is because people are allowed to get away with little things here and there then these little items evolve into big items.  It is not that much different from a child stealing a candy bar and then it progresses into grand theft.

People make more excuses like – they are a product of their environment – Well then change the environment.  Define the standards and put in place the accountability to uphold the standards.  Obligate oneself to the standards.

This week, do a little self analysis of your own business.  Have the accountability standards been evolving away from where they were 5 years ago? 1 year ago? Last week?

Take action – change the environment – uphold the standards of accountability in your business and watch it grow.

Don’t believe it exists in your business? Give JKL Associates a call at (313) 527-7945 and ask about our talent insight assessments.

Questions or comments – email us at partners@jklassociates.com or call our Office at (313) 527-7945-

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JKL Associates
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Grosse Pointe Farms
MI 48236

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