How accountable are you?

Personality accountability is definitely a competency and those who embrace it have a strong sense of responsibility; Here are some ways to show you practice personal accountability.

KEEP YOUR COMMITMENTS: In simple ways such as being a person of your word, honouring people’s faith in you, dealing with your challenges in a mature manner, delivering on your promises to all- your peers, the reportees not just your manager.

OWN WHAT YOU INFLUENCE: You influence people, results and not just the things you directly do have authority. For example who is looking up to you? Who can you positively influence by your right example?.If someone were looking for a mentor would they ask you? Keep things professional and focus on what you can create to be a positive impact instead of reacting to what happens around you.

BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR BEHAVIOUR: You can expect others will behave a certain way but the only thing you can guarantee or control is your own behaviour. So try not to behave on the basis of how someone behaves towards you. Seemingly calm or content people are not those who don’t have any problems but those who have chosen to keep things in perspective.

MAKE INTEGRITY VISIBLE: This does not mean you have to be an angel or infallible but you cannot fall down on the basics, such as leading by example especially when it’s difficult, willingness to draw the lines between right and wrong, what’s acceptable versus what is not.

DO YOUR BEST ALWAYS: Not only when circumstances are ‘perfect’. A reasonable workplace or boss would not expect that you do brilliantly in sub-optimal circumstances but only that to do your best in whatever circumstance. Aim to be productive always.

Now take action: Where do you need to show greater personal accountability?

Improve the way you think

Whether you are a good thinker or not manifests in what and how you communicate; and people who communicate clearly, justly or not attract more confidence from others. So here are some thinking skills to hone as you seek to advance yourself.

THINK CLEARLY : Clear thinking requires more than just logical thinking. You need to be able to sift through important bits of information and present them in a way that suits your audience. For example the level at which you’d pitch information with senior managers on a particular topic will be of a much higher order than those you may share with colleagues. Clear thinking shows connectedness between different bits of information, clear focus and flow of argument.

THINK STRATEGICALLY: Don’t be a thinker only focused on the here and now. Obviously there will be small level decisions that require thinking about what you do now. But you need to be able to think through complexity and make some sense of it. Ask questions like; what’s the purpose of what you are thinking about?, what could be its impact in the mid to long term?. What connections can you make about the situation that may not be immediately obvious?. What are the priorities and which ones are urgent? What risks are involved?- all these questions will help you think about the broader issues instead of the matter at hand.

THINK WISELY: This is demonstrating common sense, having a good sense of judgement and not being influenced by just what the rules say. Focus on not only on the things that make sense but also why they make sense and what the trade-offs are for the choices you’re making. Wise thinking is thoughtful, shows reflection has taken place and not just based on ‘raw thoughts’.

THINK FORWARD: By bringing new insights to a situation. Don’t be paralysed by analysis. Show foresight and anticipate what’s round the corner. Seek information from different credible sources but be flexible enough to incorporate new insights as they come to you or become available.

Now take action: Identify one way you can improve your thinking.