Definition
| blame | accountability |
|---|---|
|
To find fault with, to censure, revile, reproach To bring into disrepute, to discredit Imputation of demerit on account of a fault or blemish |
Liable to be called to account or to answer for responsibilities and conduct, answerable To be counted on or reckoned |
Questions
| blame | accountability |
|---|---|
|
What went wrong? |
What results do we want? |
Distinctions
| blame | accountability | |
|---|---|---|
| Level of problem analysis |
Individual |
System |
| Focus | Person “Who did it?” “What you did wrong” |
Problem “What happened here?” |
| Intent | Punishment “It’s your fault and I’ll make you pay.” This can be quite subtle but real nevertheless. |
Performance “Let’s see what we need to do to get the results we want.” |
| Communication | One-way negative attribution “There is something wrong with you and how you are doing things. I have no role in it.” |
Two-way mutual exploration “We’re in this together. Let’s try to understand the situation and make it work.” |
| Feeling, tone | Anger “I’m mad. It’s all your fault.” |
Compassion “If I were in your situation, I might be doing the same thing.” |
| Organizational outcome | A culture of cover-up and no learning “I won’t reveal my mistakes.” “It’s not worth it to take risks.” |
A culture of openness and learning “I want to talk about this mistake so we can all learn something and do a better job next time.” |
Initial contracting conversation
- What is the nature and scope of the work together?
- What are the specific tasks we are agreeing to?
- Which tasks remain to be defined?
- What are the deadlines? How realistic are they?
- Have we clearly identified the desired outcomes at those deadlines?
- What processes and methods will be used?
- Do we have any interim check points? Should we?
- What is expected at those check points?
- What are the roles of the people working together?
- What will we do in the event of a misunderstanding, a lapse in communication or a failure to keep an agreement?
- Imagine possible breakdowns and identify what to do about them prior to the eventuality.
Prepare for an accountability conversation by shifting your thinking and feeling.
- Work with yourself
- Start by remembering that others are acting rationally from their perspective.
- Remember that you probably have a role in the situation.
- When you think judgmental and critical thoughts, remind yourself that judgment and criticism make it very difficult to see clearly.
- What information am I missing that would help me understand their behavior?
- How might their behavior make sense?
- What pressures are they under?
- What systems or structures might be influencing their behavior?
