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Everyday Leader
Responsibility and Accountability are Not Dead
It can sometimes be dangerous to look too closely at today's events with an eye on extracting lessons that will be applicable tomorrow. But it is just as likely to be powerful. After all, the fundamentals of human nature don't change that much from day-to-day.
And so it is that today's lesson emerged amid the chaos that was discussed here last week.
The situation: It was late last Friday afternoon at the end of a long week of cleaning up all those little details that need to be cleaned up at the end of a home building project. Our project team--the project manager, framing and exterior supervisor, and interior supervisor--were updating us on the things that had been accomplished and on the plans for the week ahead.
For someone like me who tends to focus on the big picture, but also notices the details, it was a welcomed chance to see some real progress on what had seemed like a very long list that threatened to become a major project. But even more welcome than the update was what happened next.
The Action: As we finished our walkthrough, we ended up in the kitchen. The room grew almost eerily quiet as the interior manager told us he had something he needed to tell us about. Now if you have ever lived through the home building process, you can imagine our concern, as such introductory comments are usually followed by bad news.
But that was not the case this time.
He calmly shared that some damage we had pointed out earlier in the week to one of our kitchen appliances was his fault. Then, before we could respond, he told us that he had contacted the supplier and was prepared to cover the cost of replacement personally.
To say that we were speechless is a bit of an understatement. Sure, we hoped that people on our job would own up to their mistakes, but this was the first time it actually occurred. Factor in my frequent conversations with clients who lament that 'no one takes responsibility any more, that no one is willing to be held accountable,' and the power of the moment becomes clear.
But wait, there is something more. The simple fact that the information was shared in front of two colleagues may speak even louder than the act itself. For not only was the individual owning up to a mistake and demonstrating a willingness to be held accountable for it, he was also setting an example for his peers. And that was perhaps the most powerful part of the gesture.
The Lesson: This example of everyday leadership in action illustrates at least a couple of things worth noting. First, contrary to the word on the street, responsibility and accountability are not dead. Second, opportunities to lead happen every day at all levels of your organization--are you regularly noticing them and reinforcing them?
*****
Everyday Leader is written by Michael Hudson, Ph.D., The Everyday Leadership Authority(tm). Comments are welcome. Archived issues can be viewed at Everyday Leader Archives
Copyright MMV by The Everyday Leadership Network. Reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "Everyday Leader," by Michael Hudson, Ph.D., The Everyday Leadership Authority(tm). Toll Free: (866) 532-3968; International: (302) 684-8727 or at www.EverydayLeader.com
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