Six Levels of Accountability: Where Do You Rate?
There is lots of discussion about accountability recently. Far too often it is in the context of “holding others to account” for their actions and the overtone is one of punishing people for misdeeds.
I would prefer to talk about individual accountability or our ability to hold true to commitments, to do what is needed to the best of our ability, and to have the discipline and will power to complete our part of a task.
I had the perfect opportunity a few years ago as I taught in the entrepreneurship program at Purdue University. There was one assignment. 90 College Students. And there were five different levels of accountability that emerged. Curious about the results?
The Situation
The 90 Purdue students in my Introduction to Entrepreneurship class had the assignment to complete a peer review via an on line survey tool. By my calculations, this was a 10-minute task. They had a 5 day period to get this done. Not doing it means you get a zero on the assignment. Which was an interesting twist because it was a peer review. All your peers might rate you perfectly, giving you a nice opportunity to earn a lot of points. But fail to do your part and you come away with nothing.
The Set Up
I reminded my classes two different times and did a demo of the survey. We set the calibration scale in class and discussed the process. Instructions for the assignment were posted on-line. I put up an announcement. I emailed each student to remind them.
Count it — there were a total of five reminders for a 10 minute task.
The Results
In spite of all this prep, 18% failed to do the assignment — resulting in a 3.5 percentage drop in their final class grade.
The Analysis
There were six very distinct levels of accountability that became evident throughout this process. How interesting that the Pareto principle emerged. 82% were accountable and 18% failed to follow through. However, there were some distinctions in the 80/20 groups. I’ve segmented them below in levels of accountability, from the highest level of accountability to the lowest.
1. Do It and Check — 10%
Pay attention. Follow the directions. Check in to ensure the assignment was received. Correct any problems before the due date.
2. Just Do It — 72%
Pay attention. Follow the directions. Make it happen.
3. Don’t Do It and Take your Lumps — 1%
Apologize to the instructor for your failure. Take full responsibility for not getting it done. Commit to doing better the next time. Rise considerably in the instructor’s esteem.
4. Just Don’t Do It — 10%
A mystery group — no action, no feedback to me, no idea what happened.
5. Don’t Do it and Complain — 5%
Gripe AFTER the assignment is over about all the reasons you were unable to do this on time. Ensure the reasons are plentiful, although credibility is not required. Plead for more time.
6. Don’t Do It and Expect Someone to Fix it For You — 2%
Insist that the instructor failed to fully inform you. Be indignant that you will not have another chance. Continue to ask what the instructor is going to do to fix the situation. Fail to understand the answer is “nothing”. Consume time, energy and the instructor’s patience in a futile pursuit to open the survey.
I wish I could attribute this to college age immaturity. Unfortunately, after decades in the adult workplace, I fear that is not the case.
Yet the bigger question for each of us is where do we fall on the accountability scale? How willing are we to do what needs done? To avoid falling into blaming and complaining when the consequences of our inaction yield unwanted effects.
So I challenge myself and I challenge you to step up and do the things that you’ve committed to and to the things that just need done. And when it inevitably happens that you fail, own the consequences of your actions and try, try again.
