Playing The Right Chords

Accountability, a key factor in career mobility and success

One of the things being a professional musician for over 30 years has taught me is the importance of accountability.  I realize that when we think of accountable people, the first examples that pop into mind may not be musicians.  If you’re a rock fan, you’re no doubt familiar with legendary tales of debauchery and mischief from the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Guns N’ Roses.  If you’re a jazz fan, you may have read about the reckless behavior of icons such as Charlie Parker and Miles Davis.  And there is no shortage of tales of classical composers behaving badly, from long nights of heavy drinking to bawdy pranks to fits of rage.

Here’s what I’ve learned as a member of numerous musical groups over the years: in the best ensembles, members are both responsible for knowing their parts and playing them correctly and accountable when things don’t go as planned.  I recently forgot to bring my saxophone strap to a performance because I’d used it to practice at home and failed to replace it in the case.  I could have blamed my wife for not reminding me to take it.  I could have lapsed into Victim Behavior (“Why do these things always happen to me?”)  I could have thrown up my hands and told the guys, “I can’t play my horn tonight.  I forgot my strap.”  Instead, I fashioned a strap from some odds and ends I found backstage.  It wasn’t particularly comfortable, but it did the job.  And I got through the show.
 
Research shows accountable organizations outperform unaccountable ones. Rather than point fingers, sweep problems under the rug, or waste time placing blame, accountable employees admit mistakes, take ownership for fixing them, and ensure they don’t happen again. How accountable you are is a key factor in career mobility and success. In a recent survey from Talent Culture, for example, 91% of respondents rated accountability as one of the top needs they want to see at their company or organization.  Accountability also goes hand-in-hand with developing trust, loyalty, and engagement.  But just what is accountability?
 
We may have heard the word used in countless meetings and seminars without really thinking about its meaning. The definition that I think gets at the concept of accountability best is: “Making a personal choice to answer for the outcomes resulting from your decisions, behaviors, and actions (or those of others).”  The key idea here is ownership.  Accountability is typically referenced when assigning blame when something goes wrong or doesn’t get done: “They need to take accountability” or “He needs to be held accountable.”  It’s unfortunate that “accountability” has negative connotations because it’s not a bad thing!  On the contrary, accountability is synonymous with playing the right chords so that the entire organization can successfully produce outstanding results.  Furthermore, great teams don’t need to be held accountable; they behave accountably on their own, without leaders needing to prod or plead. And they flourish because of it.
 
Accountability in the workplace is crucial at ALL job levels – whether it’s an executive position, an entry-level position, or any role in-between.  Few things erode a culture as quickly as senior leaders demanding accountability from their people while failing to do so themselves.  At one of my recent workshops on accountability, an attendee told me – with a distinct note of weariness in her voice – that she had raised a concern with her boss only to be told to “stay in her own lane.” Such a rude dismissal of an employee’s legitimate concern belongs in the “Awful Leadership Hall of Fame.” The irony of this individual attending my session rather than her boss was not lost on either of us. 
 

As founder and president of Right Chord Leadership, Dr. Michael Brenner works with leaders and teams at all levels to strengthen the essential skills needed for peak performance. He achieves this by drawing on almost two decades of experience as an international leadership consultant, executive coach, keynote speaker, and educator, and more than 30 years as a professional musician. Michael’s unconventional workshops, executive coaching sessions, and consulting services – grounded in the belief that “When people work in harmony, great things happen!”™ – have helped his clients increase employee engagement, reduce turnover,improve customer service, and create more collaborative work environments.Michael has partnered with leading companies in a variety of industries and has worked for several not-for-profit organizations. Connect Michael Brenner Follow @m_brenner4