WOW Word-Of-the-Week #496: Accountable

February 6, 2014 by  

Accountable – responsible for the outcome or decision that you make.

How would you on rate yourself on “follow through?” When given a task or project do you take full responsibility? Are you consistent when it comes to meeting deadlines?

This week I asked Chris to pick the WOW since I picked the word “Execution” that I thought best describes him around the house and life in general. This might have been a mistake as he and I totally view this word in a different way. (His WOW could have possibly been over 14 pages long, just kidding!)

He ran a very large organization. When he started in San Diego he had 50 physicians that grew to 850. And he had 24,000 members that grew to over 500,000. One thing he had to a accountdo in the course of his job was to “take action.” I understand why he is the way is. You can’t be in charge and sit around wandering what you should do next. You need know and then take action. You also need to know how to manage you time, your schedule and your own priorities. (Along with a lot more attributes!)

Chris says, “In any organization, small or large, you need to take responsibility for quality, making others successful, caring about your external and internal customers, and being the best that you can be! It is especially important to take responsibility when things go wrong. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing you did the best job you could. Deflecting responsibility, hanging on to a large ego, and blaming others are all time wasters. By accepting responsibility for your decisions makes you accountable for the outcome. The buck stops here!”

This week’s focus is on being accountable. Do you want to move up in your organization? Have you ever felt you haven’t moved up as quickly as you thought you should have? How willing are you to take swift action?

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Comments

4 Responses to “WOW Word-Of-the-Week #496: Accountable”

  1. Karen Gerardo on February 7th, 2014 12:01 pm

    Hi Susan –

    I really enjoyed this week’s word – accountable. There are many in my organization that do not hold themselves accountable – someone else is always to blame when things go wrong. They do not yet know how satisfying it is to take responsibility and to see a project all the way through. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Susan Clarke on February 10th, 2014 3:06 pm

    Thanks so much for the positive feedback! Like you I believe too many people don’t want to be responsible for the outcome of their decisions or actions! Have a FUN week! Susan

  3. sade on February 9th, 2014 10:11 am

    Great WOW!! Many of us are not held accountable for our actions or our choice. I am a true believer of accountability. I also understand how accountability can be a positive reassurance. Holding yourself and others accountable also requires a layer of trust. Why hold someone accountable if you know don’t trust them to follow through?

  4. Susan Clarke on February 10th, 2014 3:08 pm

    Sade, you are living proof of being accountable! When you are mature and receptive to feedback from others you can be responsible and accountable for your decisions. Thanks for positive!