Accountability is a concept in ethics and governance with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as responsibility, answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving. As an aspect of governance, it has been central to discussions related to problems in the public sector, nonprofit and private (corporate) worlds.
- from Wikipedia
I've been in the corporate world and accountability was a word that was carelessly being thrown around. Of course I knew it's meaning, but only now do I realize that it was something I took for granted. In the organizations I worked for, accountability meant that whatever you did, you were aware of the consequences of your own actions and you stood by them. Sure, you may have made a mistake, but what you do is you apologize, learn from that mistake, and move on, knowing that tomorrow, no one will blame you for it because you were RESPONSIBLE for your own actions. Everyone knows that everyone makes mistakes. So why is everyone afraid to own up to them? I know I am, in most instances.
One thing I did realize, however, is that if we put the blame on someone else, then we never get to have the chance to learn. After all, I didn't do anything wrong so why should I change? Why should I pay for someone else's mistake? If you look at the big picture, that mentality could hinder an organization's growth because people keep on making the same mistakes over and over again instead of going on the path of continuous improvement. But I digress. The point of this entry is to rant and not to analyze how an organization can further improve itself.
Yes, the whole point of this is to rant, because no matter how many times I relay what happened to someone else, it doesn't quite feel satisfying as putting it down into writing. Even if people tell me it wasn't my fault and not to worry, I can't help but feel wronged, because I know that out there, someone is trying to cover up their ass by putting the blame on me. You may have heard this tale one too many times, with only the situation and the characters changing, and it's too cliched for anyone to pay attention to, really.
Still, it matters. It matters to me. It matters because people need to know that all this can be prevented if you would just do your job. It's not that hard, is it? You just have to pay attention and be more careful next time. Sure you can always make mistakes, but please don't try blaming it on someone else. Because that person you blame for your carelessness and wrong judgment, who badly needs that job to help their family, might lose that job. And you, you still get to keep yours because no matter how many mistakes you make, your boss wouldn't even think about replacing you, even though you deserve to be replaced. You're lucky and life is unfair. A fact that even the most naive of us already know.
You can put the blame on me, because it's always easier to put the blame on someone else. You may have convinced yourself that you did your part and you did nothing wrong, but I know that deep down in the recesses of your mind, you know the truth. We both do.
There. I feel much better now.
- from Wikipedia
I've been in the corporate world and accountability was a word that was carelessly being thrown around. Of course I knew it's meaning, but only now do I realize that it was something I took for granted. In the organizations I worked for, accountability meant that whatever you did, you were aware of the consequences of your own actions and you stood by them. Sure, you may have made a mistake, but what you do is you apologize, learn from that mistake, and move on, knowing that tomorrow, no one will blame you for it because you were RESPONSIBLE for your own actions. Everyone knows that everyone makes mistakes. So why is everyone afraid to own up to them? I know I am, in most instances.
One thing I did realize, however, is that if we put the blame on someone else, then we never get to have the chance to learn. After all, I didn't do anything wrong so why should I change? Why should I pay for someone else's mistake? If you look at the big picture, that mentality could hinder an organization's growth because people keep on making the same mistakes over and over again instead of going on the path of continuous improvement. But I digress. The point of this entry is to rant and not to analyze how an organization can further improve itself.
Yes, the whole point of this is to rant, because no matter how many times I relay what happened to someone else, it doesn't quite feel satisfying as putting it down into writing. Even if people tell me it wasn't my fault and not to worry, I can't help but feel wronged, because I know that out there, someone is trying to cover up their ass by putting the blame on me. You may have heard this tale one too many times, with only the situation and the characters changing, and it's too cliched for anyone to pay attention to, really.
Still, it matters. It matters to me. It matters because people need to know that all this can be prevented if you would just do your job. It's not that hard, is it? You just have to pay attention and be more careful next time. Sure you can always make mistakes, but please don't try blaming it on someone else. Because that person you blame for your carelessness and wrong judgment, who badly needs that job to help their family, might lose that job. And you, you still get to keep yours because no matter how many mistakes you make, your boss wouldn't even think about replacing you, even though you deserve to be replaced. You're lucky and life is unfair. A fact that even the most naive of us already know.
You can put the blame on me, because it's always easier to put the blame on someone else. You may have convinced yourself that you did your part and you did nothing wrong, but I know that deep down in the recesses of your mind, you know the truth. We both do.
There. I feel much better now.
