Overcoming Your Accountability Apprehension

Many people suffer from accountability apprehension. They feel that opening themselves up to scrutiny from others will leave them vulnerable, and – sometimes – even worry that this window into their successes and failures can hold them back in any business or workplace. While this may have been true years ago, the fact is that today’s culture is one that is obsessed with personal growth, and looks favorably on individuals that take intentional measures to become better, more productive, more positive versions of themselves. Joseph Folkman, a behavioral statistician and a contributor to Forbes, says, “Personal accountability is a critical step toward improving leadership. When people are accountable for their own decisions, work, and results, the effectiveness of an organization can greatly increase.” He conducted a study of 40,000 leaders and found incredible insights into the role accountability plays in the lives of highly successful and incredibly impactful leaders. If it works for these respected, successful individuals, the rest of us should definitely stand up and take note. Accountability Breeds Trust In his study, Joseph Folkman found that, “the three pillars that build trust are positive relationships, knowledge, and consistency of leaders.” When we open ourselves up to the idea of being help accountable for our words and actions, we will become more reliable and consistent. We work to eliminate blind spots in our personal character, and thus mold ourselves into more trustworthy and dependable individuals. Knowledge is, after all, powerful, and gaining knowledge about ourselves and our habits is often best gained through outside voices speaking truth into our lives. Does this sometimes mean being vulnerable and admitting mistakes? Absolutely. But would you rather be someone that can never right a wrong, or would you like to be known as the kind of person that is willing to be humble, and to learn and grow? Truly successful individuals know that growth and personal integrity are priceless, and