Gain Accountability by Passing the Buck

By Michelle Malay Carter on September 26, 2007 

If I were to ask you who is accountable for your output at work, what your answer be? “Me,” of course.

Good news! If organizations want to institutionalize accountability - employees can’t be the ones accountable for their output. So, pass the buck right on to your manager, s/he’s the one who has to own it.

Why, you ask?

Pass the Buck

-Who hired you for your role?
-Who gives you your assignments?
-Who provides your resources?
-Who assesses your performance?

The answer should be your manager, if it’s not, therein lies another issue. You can’t hold managers accountable without giving them certain authorities, but that’s for another post.

What, then, are you, Joe employee, accountable for?

-Bringing your full effort to bear on your assignments
-Giving your manager your best advice
-Staying within policy
What more can an employee do?

So as many decry the lack of accountability within organizations, I suggest:

Accountability is not MISSING but rather it’s MISPLACED.

I’m OK. You’re OK. Let’s fix the system.

Filed Under Accountability, Requisite Organization

Comments

One Response to “Gain Accountability by Passing the Buck”

  1. Where Jack Welch Got It Wrong - The Mandatory, Annual Low Performer Cut | Mission Minded Management on February 12th, 2008 12:30 am

    [...] All factors that influence employee performance are within the employee’s control.  (False) [...]

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