Accountability
Accountability, or answering to a higher authority for our attitudes and actions, reflects a commitment to our own personal integrity. This core quality helps us to remain fixed, set, predictable, and stable in character. We have a responsibility to be accountable on three levels
to ourselves, to other people, and to our Creator.
First, we are responsible for regularly examining our own conduct to assess if we are living according to the moral principles that we value highly and have established as standards for ourselves. Again, we can accomplish this most effectively if we have written down our principles, beliefs, convictions, values, moral standards, and ethical code, so that we can easily refer to them.
2.A Commitment to Evaluation by Others
Second, to be accountable means to submit the evaluation of our attitudes and actions to another individual or group of individuals qualified to examine them in light of the principles to which we have committed. No one can see all of his own weaknesses, or the areas of his life in which he may be compromising his standards. We all sometimes need a different perspective on our lives to show us our weaknesses and our strengths alike.
In contrast, unprincipled leaders are afraid of being held accountable, so they avoid evaluation whenever possible. As a result, many of them become “lone wolves.” They think, I’m accountable only to myself. Such people risk self-deception and isolation from the community of which they are a part. They may also begin to use and misuse other people.
Finally, a commitment to evaluation by others means that a leader reports not only to those to whom he is responsible but also to those for whom he is responsible. Accordingly, he should regularly meet with his followers to make sure he is supporting them as they work to fulfill their part of the vision. And he should endeavour to supply whatever they may need in this regard.
3.A Commitment to Evaluation by the Creator
Third, a principled leader recognizes that his ultimate accountability is to God. That is why he has made a commitment to follow the Creator’s first laws. He knows that even when he is alone, everything he says and does is observed by his Higher Authority.
A leader’s willingness to be accountable reflects his commitment to always be consistent in what he says, what he does, and who he is.
In other words, our character determines our company. We should form friendships with those who value what we value and are committed to principled living. For this reason, we must be intentional about choosing our close associates, as well as developing our personal character.
Thoughts taken from :
How values, morals, ethics, and principles affects Leaders. Dr Myles Monroe
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