Back in October we rolled out five values that we hold supreme at BG. I have been mulling these over and one in particular has reared up for me as a theme that I think will resonate for many people as a critical one in this New Year.

This morning I was reading a story by Eric Dash from the NYT about banks and debt collectors forgiving late fees, lowering interest rates, and reducing loan balances. Evidently, in 2008 more than 700,000 people had their balances lowered. This led to a conversation with my husband about contracts and accountability. His point was that contracts are losing their value. If you can sign a contract for a home loan or a credit card and then walk away from it when times get tough, what is the real meaning of the contract? And at the same time, since the banks have foolishly lent so many billions to so many bad risks, what is their accountability? It has become clear to me that it’s not much since they can get a handout from us taxpayers and then not even have to provide an accounting of how that money is being spent. This lack of accountability from top to bottom in the mortgage story has truly kicked us all in the ass. As my ancestors would say – Oy!

As a side note – what scared me most in the story was the POV that the sooner these people clean up their finances, the sooner the banks can start lending them money again. Helloooo! What’s that saying about the definition of stupidity being the repetition of the same mistake over and over?

So this morning, while plowing through my email inbox, I found an excerpt that had been sent to me from the book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick M. Lencioni and it struck a chord (thanks for sending this over Jeff):

Dysfunction #4: Avoidance of Accountability
When teams don’t commit to a clear plan of action, even the most focused and driven individuals hesitate to call their peers on actions and behaviors that may seem counterproductive to the overall good of the team.

Dysfunction #5: Inattention to Results
Team members naturally tend to put their own needs (ego, career development, recognition, etc.) ahead of the collective goals of the team when individuals aren’t held accountable. If a team has lost sight of the need for achievement, the business ultimately suffers.

Without accountability, success is difficult to achieve. The BG team is focused on success and results, yet I wonder how often we could have done even better in 2008 if only there had been more attention to accountability. I suppose, if only we had held each other accountable is more to the point.

Accountability can be scary. The looming nemesis of  failure is one potential outcome. But a grounded sense of accomplishment is its flip side. Of course, holding others accountable can be hard too. You need a pretty tight team to be able to keep each honest without defensiveness and finger pointing. That team needs trust and no small modicum of empathy.

So as we head into 2009, I challenge our team to hold each other accountable. To not be afraid to ask the tough questions of each other. To sacrifice individual glory when it’s the best thing for the team (which ultimately means for our clients). And I sure do hope the incoming administration does the same thing. We need accountability top to bottom in this country. From every worker still employed at an auto plant in Detroit to our representatives in Washington to the bankers in New York. And from you and me.

How will you hold yourself accountable in 2009?

Photo by David Paul Ohmer with use by Creative Commons license via Flickr.