The Shift in Accountability: Reflecting on the Past and Future
The Shift in Accountability: Reflecting on the Past and Future
Have You Noticed a Shift in Accountability?
Have you noticed a shift in accountability in people overall, wondered why people aren’t as accountable as they used to be, and what you can do to change it? I have been wrestling with these questions and have some thoughts to offer.
Reflecting on Accountability Levers from the Past
Reflecting back 30-50 years ago, there were three strong levers that helped us all be more accountable:
1. Community Lever
In the past, the community played a significant role in keeping us accountable. For instance, when my sister and I popped our screen out of the window and climbed out on our roof to play catch, anyone in the neighborhood who saw us would promptly scold us and tell our parents. This community oversight ensured that we were always mindful of our actions. This communal approach has seen a shift in accountability over the years.
2. Spiritual Lever
Almost all of my friends attended some place of holy worship on the weekend. It didn’t matter if it was Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, etc. They all had a spiritual compass that guided them on right versus wrong and on building a community. This spiritual guidance was a crucial part of our upbringing. The decline in regular spiritual engagement has contributed to the shift in accountability.
3. Professional Lever
We were taught to respect the police and other authorities who upheld the laws of the constitution. They were there to protect us and catch us if we did something wrong. For example, when I got pulled over for speeding to get to the airport on time, I knew I was at fault and they were just doing their job. I didn’t love it, but I valued it. Respect for authority figures has also seen a shift in accountability in recent times.
The Diminishing Levers of Accountability Today
Today, many of these levers of accountability are diminished, leaving us with our personal accountability to others outside of ourselves. Even that lever has changed as little things that used to influence it—like eating at the dinner table nightly as a family, having to do dishes, and cleaning the house—are often not done in families today.
I remember my daughter coming home from school in third grade all huffy. When I asked her why she was upset, she said the teacher asked who had to take their dishes from the table to the sink. About ¾ of the class raised their hand. Then she asked who had to rinse their dishes and put them in the dishwasher, and only a 1/3 raised their hands. Finally, she asked who had to clean the entire kitchen after a meal, including filling the dishwasher, sweeping the floor, cleaning the dirty pots and pans, and wiping down all the counters. My daughter said, “Only two of us had our hands up.” I said, “Someday you will thank me.”
Teaching Personal Accountability Through Daily Activities
Even little things like eating around the table teach personal accountability. You learn you have to listen as well as talk, eat the food put out for all, speak without your mouth full, and learn to segue conversations to a topic you want to talk about. It teaches so much more about collaboration, active listening, and communicating. These practices can help counter the shift in accountability we see today.
Increasing Accountability in the New Year
As we start the new year, focus on increasing the levers we need to raise our personal accountability. An easy question to ask is, “Did I make it easy for someone to execute on what I did?” By addressing this shift in accountability, we can foster a more responsible and engaged community.