Maybe it's just me, but I sometimes feel that accountability is a rare talent in business today. In big businesses, people are quick to defer with "that's not my department," and even startup founders too often blame failures on the economy or the lack of investors. As an investor and advisor to entrepreneurs, I see accountability, or lack of it, as an override to even the best idea.
I believe accountability is a personal decision that we all can make, largely driven by personal confidence and determination, and is certainly one that we can learn. It's not baked into our DNA, and there are many resources available to direct improvement.
For example, I found some great guidance to the how, why, and who of accountability in the newly released "QBQ Workbook," by John G. Miller and Kristin E. Lindeen. Miller is well-known for his classic bestseller on this subject, "QBQ! The Question Behind The Question." His advice starts with a request to stop blaming, and start asking, "What can I do to improve this situation?"
Very refreshing. If you are an entrepreneur building a new business, there are many things along these lines that you can and must do, including the following:
The best part about a focus on accountability is that it leads to real change, learning, and action, and these are the keys to entrepreneurial survival. When a business stops changing and learning in today's fast-moving world, it stops growing and thriving. Every business is really a set of people. Are you growing and thriving?