August 3, 2021
Accountability And Blaming
Accountability is important in all aspects of our life. Whether at work or at home, being accountable starts with each of us. Holding ourselves accountable for our actions – or inactions – is not always easy, but necessary.
When we lack accountability, it often shows up in blaming behaviors. As inspirational thinker Brene Brown explains, blaming is a way that we discharge anger. It has an inverse relationship with accountability and can be corrosive to relationships in all aspects of our life. This type of toxic behavior can have negative ripple effects through teams as well, impacting a group’s ability to collaborate and perform effectively.
The act of being accountable is a vulnerable process and often starts with an open and honest dialogue. These conversations can take place casually, or in a more formal setting such as a performance appraisal. Sometimes conversations about accountability can be uncomfortable, but if they are handled with sincerity and care, the outcome can be positive for everyone involved.
This year, CentraCare shifted to a new performance appraisal process – one that places greater emphasis on accountability. It includes peer feedback that is no longer anonymous, which is a great opportunity for accountability and growth. The process also encourages more frequent check-in conversations throughout the year so everyone knows what’s expected of them and how they’re performing. For more information about the new performance appraisal process, check out the resources available here.
Blame is an easy go to that I think we are all vulnerable to in times of stress and fatigue; I know I am. It makes sense that accountability requires more work, as you need to implement self-management to control that initial emotional impulse, have self-awareness to think about how it really made you feel and social awareness to utilize empathy. Lastly social awareness to the other person and have that conversation in a healthy way. These are all skills that can be learned, to improve relationships at home or at work.