From what I can gather, Unicorns are solitary creatures. They are happiest when they are “uncorning” alone. Conversely, otters are all about the team. A group of otters can be referred to by many names, but my favourite is a family of otters…although a raft of otters is also awesome. Whether it a family, or a team, being part of either comes with certain responsibilities. One of the most important is being accountable to the team and yourself. My magic wand spell would be to get people to be accountable for their actions in whichever role they fill on a team.
At one point in my professional journey, I found myself in foreign land. This was not some fancy diplomatic post or scary conflict zone, but a workplace with no accountability. It was not dissimilar from a cultural immersion where the language, customs, and traditions are experienced for the first time. Initially, it was novel, even quirky, as I tried to adjust to a new normal. However, it quickly became apparent that the person in charge, did not know how, or perhaps was unwilling, to hold people accountable. Quirky became bizarre and then frustrating. Sure, there were lots of self-starters which meant work was getting done, but it felt a bit like shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. It was not a matter of if we would hit an iceberg, simply when and how much damage the organization would sustain. Even more perplexing was the person in charge could not muster the ability to hold himself accountable to the team – setting a good example, following through on promises, or admitting mistakes.
At the heart of trust, sits accountability. Teams cannot function without this characteristic. There is too much to do in running a business, delivering for customers, or building a brand without the power of the team. Business success is inextricably linked to the quality of the team. And a high quality team is accountable to one another. This is not about perfection. No one is expected to be perfect, but we do expect people to do their share of the task and own their mistakes. We also expect people to be accountable to themselves for living the ethics and values of the team. Collective and individual accountability gives the person beside you the confidence that you will help keep the raft afloat.