July 31 2023
By: Shawn M. Galloway
In many organizations, when someone thinks of or hears the word accountability, they imagine a scene where the boss is banging their fist on the table, exclaiming, "We didn't get the results we wanted. Who are we going to hold accountable?!" If this is someone's experience with being held accountable, no wonder the term has a negative connotation.
Accountability can be both reactive and proactive. The consequences of being accountable or not can also be positive (what happens if desirable results or behaviors) 
and negative (what happens if undesirable results or behaviors) depending on how it is received.
Results Accountability: The focus here is on results. We accomplished the objectives, and the goal was met. The leader shakes the employee's hand and says, "Because you did this, this is why we are celebrating this win. Great job!" Positive results accountability. Conversely, "Because this didn't happen, this is why we didn't meet our goal. What happened?" A better approach to banging a fist on a table… Negative Results Accountable.
Proactive Accountability: The focus here is on behaviors. "We are halfway through the month, and I've noticed you are doing precisely what we agreed to. I'm confident we will hit the target at the end of the month." Positive proactive accountability. Conversely, "We are halfway through the month, and I noticed your commitments to help us reach our target are not being met. What can I do to help you be successful here?" Negative proactive accountability.
In general, I prefer using the term 'proactive accountability' as it defines what true accountability is — making sure someone is doing the things necessary to accomplish the results before checking to see if the results were accomplished. We humans do a better job aligning others to our results expectations than our behavioral expectations. When this happens at work, it is no wonder there is disappointment between boss and employee, and accountability becomes a dirty word. Considering the examples I've shared, how can you clean up accountability in your organization?
"It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable." — Moliere
"Responsibility equals accountability, accountability equals ownership, and a sense of ownership is the most powerful thing a team or organization can have." — Pat Summit
"Once people have a clear idea of what decisions they should and should not be making, holding them accountable for decisions feels fair." — Gary L. Neilson
Shawn M. Galloway is the CEO of ProAct Safety and an advisor to leading organizations across all major industries. With over twenty years of experience in safety systems, strategy, culture, leadership, and employee engagement, he is a trusted advisor, keynote speaker, and expert witness.
He is the author of several bestselling books and has multiple regular columns in leading magazines, with over 400 articles and 100 videos to his credit. He also created the first safety podcast, Safety Culture Excellence, with over 800 episodes. Shawn has received numerous prestigious accolades and has been featured in Power 101 Leaders of the EHS World, Top 50 People Who Most Influenced EHS, Top 40 Rising Stars, Top 11 Health and Safety Influencers, and Top 10 Speakers.
He serves on the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and the Fast Company Executive Board. He has appeared as a guest on Bloomberg, Fox News, The Daily Mail, Dubai One, U.S. News & World Report, Sirius Business Radio, Wharton Business Daily, and leading safety magazines and podcasts, reinforcing his status as an authority in the field of safety excellence.
For more information, call +1.936.273.8700 or email info@ProActSafety.com.
