Recent research conducted by the Futures Company on behalf of Reality-Based Leadership found that the average healthcare worker spends almost 2.5 hours per day in drama (arguing with reality, venting, resisting change, not aligning with where the organization needs to go). A lack of accountability featured as one of the key sources of drama. While drama is often thought of as an accepted reality in healthcare, where you have people working together in tough environments, it is actually waste in the system. This wasteful behavior zaps the happiness of staff while costing the organization millions of dollars annually. Imagine if that time and energy lost to drama could be recaptured and put toward better outcomes and patient care?
Personal accountability is one of the most talked about, yet most misunderstood concepts in healthcare today. It is the belief that results happen because of your actions and not in spite of them. It’s a choice, a mindset that can be cultivated, and an expression of integrity.
You see, the challenges you face day-to-day are real, and they will always exist. It’s highly unlikely that life will go perfectly all the time. That does not mean challenging circumstances should become the reason you cannot succeed. Once we stop focusing on what’s happening to us and focus instead on how we can succeed in our current circumstances, we will begin to see the amazing impact we can have. These results will lead to a happier, more engaged attitude—particularly at work. Accountability is truly the fast track to your own peace, happiness, and success at your organization.
How can you build and maintain high levels of accountability in your life? Here are four factors to consider that contribute directly to your personal accountability and can make for a happier outlook at work and in life.
Commitment
Being truly committed means you are willing to do whatever it takes to get results. You willingly dedicate yourself to the task at hand without a list of conditions. Those who are accountable know that buy-in is a choice and are willing to sign up early and often to fulfill a larger role for the benefit of the organization.
Resilience
How able are you to stay committed when you run in to obstacles or setbacks along the way? Are you quick to step down and look for a way out at the first sign of trouble? Resilient people are able to stay the course in the face of adversity. They do not go about staying the course alone, but instead reach out to their large network of positive relationships for ideas to overcome barriers. They are the crowd-sourcers of the world. It’s common to feel like giving up when things get tough, but channel your inner tenacity and make an effort to bounce back quickly from setbacks—with help if you need it.
Ownership
Having full ownership over your actions and outcomes involves the ability to embrace your part in the results—good or bad. Ownership is recognizing the part you played to help or hinder the success of a situation. Ownership is about viewing these moments as stepping-stones to getting better at your job and, ultimately, happier at work. If you have truly been all in (committed) and done all you could to stay the course (resilient), you should also be open to feedback.
Continuous Learning
Making mistakes is never fun, but accountable people know they that mistakes are necessary for future results and learning. They view them as teachable moments that will help make them better and more successful in the future. They resist the urge to join the blame game, and they mine the experience to find new options for the future.
The takeaway? Your happiness is not correlated to your circumstances, but to the amount of accountability you take for your circumstances.
Interested in learning about other tools and techniques to redirect that 2.5 hours per day that is lost to drama, and put it back toward results and patient care?
Join me in November 27 for the webinar: Reality-Based Leadership: How to Ditch the Drama, Restore Peace and Sanity to the Workplace, and Turn Excuses Into Results.
