by Todd Pheifer

Created on: March 11, 2008

We have started to have a love affair with this word in our modern society. The problem is, we don't really know how to implement it without infringing on people's freedom to make choices. The business world really likes this word as well, as in, "we need to hold people more accountable". Unfortunately, when business managers talk about holding people accountable, it too often means that they are aren't good enough leaders to inspire people to greatness on their own. In basic psychological terms, holding people "accountable" smacks of negative reinforcement, which many experts suggest is not the way to get people to move. The challenge is, we do need to make some kind of progress in society and some people will not naturally do the right thing on their own. Therefore, accountability can be appropriate in some contexts. Here are few other thoughts on the nature of accountability and what must be kept in mind in order to implement it.

WHAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE?

One of the things that people forget to do is put themselves in other people's shoes. Granted, empathy is a tricky business because we have to be careful when we assume we know what others are thinking and feeling. However, it is important to ask the question, "what motivates people?" because it can get at the core of accountability. It is one thing to suggest that people "should" be doing something, but it is another to acknowledge that there is a REASON they are not doing that thing. When we step back and examine what motivates people, it can get us a lot closer to desired behavior.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO GIVE OR TAKE AWAY?

As mentioned above, behavior is often about reinforcement. Therefore, it is also important to examine what things you have as incentives or punishments in order to motivate people. For example, in a business setting you might say that you need to hold people accountable. Fine. Are you going to fire them for their actions? No? Are you going to take away a part of their measly cost-of-living-adjustment "raise"? What else do you have? Again, we talk conveniently about accountability, but are we willing to reward or punish to enough of a degree that people take notice? A free T-shirt is not going to do it. Nor is a stern speech about responsibility.

I like the idea of accountability, but unfortunately many people do not think it all the way through. Ponder the aspects listed above, and see if you come to the same conclusions regarding human behavior.

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