Who is responsible for your life?
Enlightenment means taking full responsibility for your life.
~ William Blake
What does “accountable” mean to you? I ask, because over the past two days I’ve encountered two examples of what I identify as misplaced responsibility.
In a new group I’m joining, people have been offering ideas about our purpose and structure. Here are a couple of quotes from the list of suggestions (emphasis mine):
- “At each meeting individuals could pledge to take specific actions, to be reported on at subsequent meetings. The group will hold individuals accountable.”
- “Group will hold everyone accountable for being on time.”
Then, on Enhance Life, a blog written by a recent visitor to the Lavender Log, I saw this post, “Who borrowed your time today?” The underlying premise, to identify where you unwisely use your time, I absolutely agree with. The way of stating it, however, seems to imply that someone else is responsible for how your time is used. Not true, I say.
So here are my thoughts on being accountable, which, by the way, is defined as, “liable to be called to account” or “being obliged to answer to an authority for your actions.”
- Accountability rests with YOU. Though you might be answering to someone, the accountability (synonym = responsibility) is yours.
- Being accountable means keeping your word and doing what you committed to do. Dropping the ball happens to everyone, yet doing so doesn’t absolve any of us of our accountability.
- Having someone, like a coach (that’s me) to check in with you and support you to keep your commitments is one of the best ways you can increase your effectiveness. If you have made commitments in the past, yet failed to keep them, you owe it to yourself to get support!
- Finally, the next time you notice yourself wanting someone to hold you accountable, take a look in the mirror and remind yourself that YOU are the only person who can be accountable for your life. It’s your life, take responsibility for making it the life you truly want!
Learning to assume total responsibility for your life is no small task. Keep reminding yourself that you are it. No one else is responsible for your happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction, competence, health, or life situation but you. No matter what life or leadership challenges you face, you are not a victim of your circumstances; you are responsible. As you advance, you will find that you feel happy for no particular reason - no external event has validated you - you are just feeling good about being you. As you increasingly assume responsibility for yourself, you are prepared to assume responsibility for leading others. All leadership begins with self-leadership and self-responsibility.
~ Kevin Cashman, in Leadership from Inside Out
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