Accountability, Commitment and Responsibility

1. July 12 2016

2. WHAT DOES COMMITMENT
MEAN?
 Commitment as defined by Merriam Webster
Dictionary:
 a promise to do or give something
 a promise to be loyal to someone or something
 the attitude of someone who works very hard to do or
support something
 Others:
 The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity
 A pledge or undertaking
 An engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action

3.  Being asked to “commit” to the delivery of a list of specific
stories rather than a goal
 Someone else estimating your work for you
 “A commitment is something that I offer you. A mandate is
something you impose on me. Not the same thing.” Kent Beck
(4/2/2014)

4.  “Behind every complaint is an idea, belief or a value that a
person is committed to.”
 Can be considered as a creative act (thought pattern)
 Arise from frustration
 About something someone cares about

5.  A conversation starter
 Gaining or deflecting attention
 Buys time
 Dwell on what’s not working
 Belief of helplessness, not empowered, not in a position to make a
difference, that there is no solution
 Habit forming
 Limits possibilities and outcomes

6.  Ask powerful ?’s
 How is this a problem? / In what way is this affecting you?
 How does it make you feel?
 If this were not a problem, how would things be different?
 If this problem were to be resolved immediately, how would it
impact you?
 ?’s to help empower
 Describe what the ideal situation would be for you?
 What will the outcome do for you?
 What role can you play in making this happen? What actions can
you take?
 How will this solution make you feel?
 How do you feel now about your initial problem?

7.  Commitment ignites action
 Commitment without action is not really commitment
 Commitment is persistence with a purpose.
 Commit to what is necessary to achieve goals.
 Commitments are things that you say you will do and people
TRUST you to do
 Commitment is knowing what you want to achieve, developing
a plan to do it and following through with actions.
 When you keep or exceed commitments, you build a foundation
for success and future growth.

8.  Choose your commitments wisely.
 Document and track your commitments.
 Communicate commitments.
 Ask powerful ?’s

9.  Accountability as defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary:
 Obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for
one’s actions
 In accepting responsibility you make yourself accountable for
those commitments you are willing to make.
 Requires shared intention, responsibility, ownership and
commitment to action
 Can be depended on
 Meet goals committed to
 Deliver action and results
 Hold true to own decisions
 Have ownership

10.  Being Accountable + Being Responsible = Trust
 When we hold ourselves accountable:
 Feel empowered and satisfied
 Aware of potential
 Confident and strong
 True to ourselves
 Reduces negativity
 Personal responsibility for actions and results
 Instead of holding people accountable, we should believe in the
team/or individual to choose accountability

12.  Powerful ?’s
 What is in your way?
 How do you feel if you are committed and accountable?
 What are the actions you intend to take?
 Would you like me to hold you accountable?
 What support can help in holding yourself accountable?
 Stop solving or taking problems
 Your problem is NOT my problem
 Grow capabilities and distribute responsibility
 By sharing responsibility, risks and rewards people can get past
worry of failure and embarrassment
 Increase engagement

13.  Commitment requires a clear understanding of what needs to
be done and a willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed.
 Accountability provides a sense of importance, and it is
rewarding to see that our actions make a difference.
 Commitment plus Accountability ~ Formula for unstoppable
success.