Whether it be in business or in your personal life, with your kids or spouse, healthy accountability is an integral part of success. The lack of is guaranteed to steer you away from your destination and desired outcome.

To help stay on track, here's a formula put forth by my friend John Di Bert. As the CFO at Bombardier, a multinational aerospace and transportation company, John drives accountability every single day. It's part of his job—making sure people understand the objectives and delivering against those objectives.

DR ≠ NDR + AGR


The Delivering Results is not equal to Not Delivering Results and Good Reason!

Let that sink in for a second...when an accountability situation occurs that gets you off your track, do you sit and talk about the ''Good Reason'' why you were not able to do such and such? Unavoidably, ‘'life'' will happen and there are times where real obstacles, valid reasons will get in the way; however (and as John says, ''It's not to be ruthless.'') the minute you accept that Delivering the Result is AS GOOD AS Not Delivering Results and having a valid reason, you will start to focus on the Good Reason.

The destination should not change. Instead of giving yourself the right to not get where you want to be because of a good reason, look for ways to adapt, change your course, have the difficult conversations early on. Focus your energy on that instead...there are always solutions!

Accountability is not a Blame Game. Rather, it is a tool to empower. Nothing is more rewarding than to hold someone (including ourselves) accountable and seeing the results, the accomplishments and more often than not, the surpassing of the future state that we had set out for. Accountability starts with you.

“Each day you are leading by example. Whether you realize it or not or whether it's positive or negative, you are influencing those around you.”
― Rob Liano


Whether you are leading a multinational, a small business, a department or your family, the culture of leadership always starts with you. Modeling the behaviour you want to see in others is key. When I speak to my team, focusing on the solution is imperative. Don't just bring me a problem without at least trying to propose a solution. If this is what I want from the people around me, then I must do the same. When I point out what’s not working, I must always try to provide an alternative.

Why would anyone around you be accountable if you show the opposite behavior? Your rank, seniority, or authority cannot override the simple truth that accountability begins at the top.

As the leader, you are accountable. Success and failure will weigh on your shoulders; however empowering people around you will create a culture that everyone is involved, everyone is responsible and so everybody wins.

“The right thing to do and the hard thing to do are usually the same.”
― Steve Maraboli


Accountability is not always easy! It's not always about being right...it's about doing what’s best for the desired outcome. Don't let your ego get in the way...even as a parent or a boss, when having an accountability conversation, leave your ego at the door! Accountability applies to everyone.

The impact on performance, family or team unity and the ability to reach and even surpass goals will increase when there is a culture of accountability.

For any comments or suggestions, please write to seb@sperano.ca or through our Facebook page; facebook.com/fromthebrokersdesk

Sebastien Sperano Sebastien Sperano | Author

Courtier Immobilier Agréé
Chartered Real Estate Broker
Re/Max 2001 inc. Agence immobilière / Real Estate Agency

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