an online book by David Gurteen
Accountability means being liable to be called to account by some authority and facing consequences if we fail to complete expected actions. We are held accountable through external enforcement and oversight.
Accountability, in terms of ethics and governance, is equated with answerability, culpability, liability, and the expectation of account-giving.
As in an aspect of governance, it has been central to discussions related to problems in the public sector, nonprofit, private (corporate), and individual contexts. In leadership roles, accountability is the acknowledgment of and assumption of responsibility for actions, products, decisions, and policies such as administration, governance, and implementation, including the obligation to report, justify, and be answerable for resulting consequences.
In governance, accountability has expanded beyond the basic definition of "being called to account for one's actions". It is frequently described as an account-giving relationship between individuals, e.g. "A is accountable to B when A is obliged to inform B about A's (past or future) actions and decisions, to justify them, and to suffer punishment in the case of eventual misconduct."
Accountability cannot exist without proper accounting practices; in other words, an absence of accounting means an absence of accountability. Another key area that contributes to accountability is good records management.
Credit: Wikipedia - accountabilityOn accountability | Peter Block Posts where this video is embedded Conversation Sharpens the Saw It is not a waste of time Don’t Discourage Dissent Fear, uncertainty and doubt are good things Exploring the Multifaceted Roles of Trust in Relationships and Society Without trust our civilization would collapse How to Design Powerful Questions Questions open the door to dialogue … Continue reading Peter Block on Accountability Peter Block
Powerful questions are those that, in the answering, evoke a choice for accountability and commitment. Credit: Peter Block Posts where this quotation is embedded Conversation Sharpens the Saw It is not a waste of time Don’t Discourage Dissent Fear, uncertainty and doubt are good things Exploring the Multifaceted Roles of Trust in Relationships and Society Without trust our … Continue reading Powerful Questions Evoke a Choice for Accountability and Commitment Peter Block
The power to create a future requires us to choose to be accountable. To be accountable, among other things, means you act as an owner and part creator of whatever it is that you wish to improve. In the absence of this, you are in the position of effect, not cause … a powerless stance. To be accountable … Continue reading Choose to Be Accountable Peter Block
A new future is created when each gathering (or meeting) becomes an opportunity to deepen accountability and commitment through engagement. It doesn’t matter what the stated purpose of the gathering is. Each gathering serves two functions: (1) to address its stated purpose and (2) to be an occasion for each person to decide to become … Continue reading A Gathering Serves Two Functions Peter Block
Questions are more transforming than answers. The skill is getting the questions right. The traditional conversations that seek to explain, study, analyze, define tools, and express the desire to change others are interesting but not powerful. Questions open the door to the future and are more powerful than answers in that they demand engagement. Engagement … Continue reading Questions Are More Transforming Than Answers Peter Block
In this book, Confronting Our Freedom, Peter Block and Peter Koestenbaum deliver an exciting and engaging new take on management and leadership. Drawing on recent events in the market and in the world, including the Great Resignation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and widespread digital transformation, the authors invite you to reimagine ideas of freedom and accountability … Continue reading Confronting Our Freedom: Leading a Culture of Chosen Accountability and Belonging by Peter Block, Peter Koestenbaum (2023)
Accountabilty is the willingness to acknowledge that we have participated in creating, through comission or ommision, the conditions that we wish to see changed. Without this capacity to see ourselves as cause, our efforts become either coercive or wishfully dependent on the transformation of others. Community will be created the moment we decide to act … Continue reading How Have I Contributed to the Current Reality? Peter Block
Introduction: Conversational Habits Talk More Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Make time to talk: One of the reasons we frequently give for not taking a more conversational approach to our work or life is a lack of time. Some of us even see conversation as a waste of time, but lack of time … Continue reading Make Time to Talk The lack of time for conversation is just an excuse
Introduction: Principles of Conversational Leadership II. Embrace Complexity Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Take responsibility: In life, we can choose to take responsibility in several ways. Most critically, we can choose to take ownership of the changes we wish to see in the world. Introduction Taking responsibility is a crucial aspect of personal … Continue reading I. Take Responsibility We need to take responsibility for the changes we wish to see in the world
Introduction: Motivation and Engagement ** Motivation ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Commitment shapes our decisions and actions, but not all commitments are the same. Without true commitment, hesitation and uncertainty hold us back. The moment we fully commit—without conditions or expectations—momentum builds, and unexpected support emerges. Bold action unlocks possibilities we never … Continue reading What Commitment Really Means We are committed when we decide to do something without any expectation of return
Carpe Diem – Seize the Day Speak Up Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Admit when you are wrong: We find it difficult to admit when we are wrong. Our relationships and personal development are negatively affected by this. What can we do to improve our ability to admit we’re wrong? Admitting When We … Continue reading Owning Our Mistakes ** Learning how admitting we’re wrong strengthens relationships and personal growth
Reframing Questions Raising the Ships on the Sea Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Trust is the force that holds our society together. It is the glue that connects us, builds communities, and is one of the foundations on which society depends. It is vital for society to function. Our civilization would collapse totally … Continue reading Exploring the Multifaceted Roles of Trust in Relationships and Society Without trust our civilization would collapse
Punished by Rewards We Need to Stop Trying to Do Things to Each Other Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter We use the words responsibility and accountability loosely in everyday language, but what’s the difference? We take responsibility but are held accountable. We can not make someone responsible for something; we can only hold them accountable. … Continue reading The Difference Between Responsibility and Accountability We take responsibility but are held accountable
Knowledge Café History Knowledge Café Applications Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The outcomes of a Knowledge Café are not tangible outcomes such as decisions, plans, or consensus. The outcomes are what the participants take away in their heads. In its unadapted form, the Knowledge Café is not about traditional tangible outcomes. It is … Continue reading Knowledge Café Outcomes The outcomes are what you take away in your head
