We all need to develop personal accountability, as it makes us better team players and people who can be trusted and respected, among so many other benefits. I believe that anyone who wants to succeed in life needs to develop personal accountability and take full responsibility for their actions.
In this post, we will look at the definition of personal accountability, its importance and how to develop it.
What Is Personal Accountability?
Personal accountability is the ability to willingly take responsibility and accept the consequences of each decision you make, actions you carry out, or behaviors you express. When you are personally accountable, you take ownership of your involvement in situations. As such, when the outcome is unexpected, you will need to try your possible best to resolve the issue.
Additionally, personal accountability can be said to be comprised of five practices as highlighted below:
· Obligation;
Knowing that tasks or responsibilities come with consequences.
· Willingness
Acting out of choice, not out of necessity.
· Intention
Planning with a clear purpose in mind.
· Ownership
Being in charge of your actions
· Commitment
It is the devotion to a task at hand and the desire to better oneself.
How to develop Personal Accountability
The following behaviors will help you develop personal accountability.
Be honest to everyone, including yourself: Learn to set pride aside; it has no place in the journey to becoming a better individual. So if you need help, ask for it, and if you’ve made a mistake, admit it.
Be clear on your roles and responsibilities: You need to know your roles and job description to be accountable for them. So ask to be clarified on what is expected from you.
Be able to say sorry and admit your wrongdoings: Own up to your wrongdoings, apologize for them and try to make things right.
Make good use of your time: Learn to avoid distractions, overcome procrastination, and effectively prioritize tasks.
Know your limit: Don’t take on more than you can handle, so you can effectively deliver on what is required of you.
Don’t forget to reflect: Reflections helps you find areas that you can improve upon, and things you should continue to do because they are working.
Why is it Important to Develop Personal Accountability?
Personal accountability contributes to healthier relationships, honor, compassion, honesty, dedication, and sincerity, crucial to living a fulfilling and wholesome life. Below are some of the benefits of developing personal accountability.
- Accountability enhances your ability to identify and resolve the root cause of a problem and moves you forward in a consistent manner.
- Accountability helps you take complete control of your life.
- Accountability leads to a better sense of self and increased self-efficacy.
- Accountability inspires confidence and builds trust.
- Accountability makes you a team player and will help you excel in your place of work or chosen career.
In conclusion,
To develop personal accountability, always establish clear roles and responsibilities. Also, learn to be truthful to yourself so that you can easily accept your wrong, apologize, and move on with others.
As a side bonus of developing personal accountability, you can influence people around you to be accountable for their
