Accountability - Someone to watch over me

“There is no accountability in the public school system - except for coaches. You know what happens to a losing coach. You fire him. A losing teacher can go on losing for 30 years and then go to glory.” Ross Perot in The Dallas Morning News, March 11, 1984

Accountability is one of those things that doesn’t receive the respect and acknowledgement its necessity deserves. By definition it means: “Liable to being called to account; responsible. Capable of being explained.” If a person is accountable to another (as in an employee to an employer or a husband to a wife) then they are held responsible for their actions, decisions and outcomes. Many people feel that they are above being held accountable for various reasons. Poor role models is at the top of the list, I would suspect.

We’ve all seen examples of individuals and organizations that have been toppled by scandal, deception, lies and negligence of trust. Presidents and monarchs have felt the sting of it. The scandal at Enron left many people who thought they had their future savings and investments covered without a dime. All because of a lack of accountability.

That isn’t quite the level of accountability I’m discussing here, and I’m not suggesting that you’re in that “club”. However, it all runs in the same pack. Being accountable to someone isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it is one of the most powerful ways to keep an individual focused, directed and motivated to achieve success.

The Bible states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) This is the essence of accountability, having someone to answer to, to converse with and with whom to exchange thoughts and ideas with respect to your aspirations.

For some, being a self motivator is not an issue. They are driven to succeed and have a clear picture of what it is they desire and just how to go about it. That’s fine, and clearly an advantage. But even a “go-getter” like that needs someone to challenge them to reach higher, shoot straighter and aim farther. We all need it. This is the essence of accountability.

Think of this individual, or better yet, a group of individuals, as partners. Accountability partners. People who care enough about you and your future to come along beside you and help you reach for the gold ring. In his dynamic book, “Think and Grow Rich”, Napoleon Hill labeled this as “the mastermind principle.” (If you haven’t read “Think and Grow Rich” yet, here’s the part where, as your accountability partner I ask the question, “What are you waiting for? Do it NOW!) No matter what you call it, the principle of accountability is of vital importance to helping you achieve the rewards and fruits of your labor.

Maybe you don’t see how this could benefit you. That’s O.K.; I’m going to lay it out here. Say for example you have a goal to run a marathon in six months. You find an accountability partner who wants to see you do well or maybe they’re running in a race as well. You simply ask each other questions to keep each other on track. Questions like:
• Sleep: "Are you getting enough sleep each night?"
"If not, how much are you getting?" "How do you plan to change?"
• Medicine: "Are you taking your medication daily?"
"If not, how often are you taking it?" "How do you plan to change?"
• Exercise: "Are you following you exercise plan daily?"
"If not, how often are you exercising?" "How do you plan to change?"
• Eating: "Are you eating properly at each meal?"
"If not, what are you eating/not eating?" "How do you plan to change?"
• Substance: "Are you staying off harmful substances?"
"If not, when and how often have you taken them?" "How do you plan to change?"

This is just one example of how an accountability partner can benefit you on the path to success and fulfillment. I’m sure you can think of other ways to put this vital tool to good use. Use it and reap the rewards you’re after. We need accountability partners for true achievement. After all, what use is there is achieving a goal if you have no one with which to share the success? Leo Buscaglia once wrote, “We are each of us angels with one wing and we can truly only fly when we hold on to one another.”