The A Word, Accountability:
I recently published a book entitled Bottom Line Focus
. Its subtitle is, 18 proven steps to take your company from surviving to thriving. Wow, who wouldnt want to do that right? I mean if youre a business owner or CEO its a no-brainer. Heck if even half of the stuff in the book is of value its still a value.Whats in it? Is it some type of new age magic formula?
The truth is the gimmick of my book is there is no gimmick. The things in the book work, but my 35 plus years of experience has proven that the majority of executives simply will not or cannot do the things that are necessary to succeed.
We are accustomed to having the fast and easy marketed to us, whether in the form of a pill, a new diet, or a new business concept.
I used to be amazed at the things I saw going on in companies, now Ive come to expect it. Executives and managers are, all too frequently, waiting for something to happen to alleviate the necessity of taking action and being accountable for that action.
As I get more mature, meaning older, I am able to reflect on things based on experience and historical data. What works and what doesnt. And what it comes down to is there is no silver bullet. Leaders must lead and be accountable if they expect those they are trying to lead to be accountable.
That brings us to the title, the A word, accountability.
I said in the preface of my book the real crisis in America today is a lack of leadership. Take that one step further and its also a lack of accountability. Not just in business but in all phases of life.
Depending on which poll you look at roughly 68% of Americans disapprove of the job congress is doing. Another poll states that 83% of Americans favor term limits for congress. Id have to say these numbers represent a clear message, 1st we are unhappy with our congressional leaders, and 2nd we dont want career politicians.
The accountability part comes in when we realize that only 35% of the adult population are regular voters and 20% are intermittent voters. If those numbers are correct 45% of us dont bother at all.
If we really favor term limits we have the power to impose them at any time. We simply vote out any incumbent that is in his or her second term. No constitutional amendment, no legal battle, nothing we just use our power to vote our choice.
But we dont. We will not accept the accountability for our dissatisfaction, we just complain about it.
The same is true in many of the businesses I am familiar with. The management team in many cases knows what to do, they just dont do it. There are many reasons why they dont execute, but the bottom line is they dont. I can literally site hundreds of specific examples of this over nearly any industry.
Until we accept the fact that everything in life is a decision, even the failure to make a decision, and we are accountable for our action, or inaction, we will not make significant progress in any aspect of our lives.
A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for injury.
John Stuart Mill
by: Martin Harshberger, President, Measurable Results LLC Writing A Winning Business Plan: Thinking Like Funders Entrepreneur's Business Plan Checklist Business Planning Services:the Importance Of Collaboration Active Usb Rfid Reader Operating In Unlicensed 2.45ghz Frequency China: A Decade In Review Being A Notary Public Makes You A More Valuable Employee Why Conference Folders Are Not Just For Conferences What Is Happening With Your Forex Program? Winning Or Losing? Web Hosting With Free Web Template Hyderabad Based Packers Movers Makes Shifting Easier Choosing Right Transformer For Mining Industry Design And Construction Considerations For Wtsu Transformers Local Business Listing For Small Business Marketing