ACCEPTING ACCOUNTABILITY AT WORK

BRYAN D. PENA

When each employee in an organization acquires responsibility for their activities, there is accountability in the workplace. Any personnel, from entry-level workers to top management, are expected to meet this goal. There are several ways for professionals to exercise accountability at work. At any level, they can take personal accountability by acknowledging their own obligations and pledging to carry out their roles within the organization a necessity on fulfilling certain obligations or tasks. A few examples of personal accountability in the workplace include:

-Being present at work at the designated hours

-Independently carrying out each duty outlined in the job description

-Keeping up a consistent and sufficient level of output quality

-Recognizing the division of labor and working together with others

-Communicating any updates or difficulties with management

Accountability for organizational leaders may also include the accomplishment of their team. Leaders can foster a culture of responsibility by requesting that everyone submit their key result areas and goals. Accountability may extend to the organization as a whole on a bigger scale. The management may be required to properly communicate the company’s beliefs, mission and expectations while holding all employees to the same, fair and just standards. It may also entail accepting responsibility for the company’s intended results in the community and the society as a whole.

-oOoThe author is Teacher I at Sta. Rita Elementary School