Can You See That Integrity and Accountability Are Locked Together?

Integrity and accountability are inextricably linked. And integrity is perhaps one of our most important personal possessions…never to be trifled with.

In thinking about accountability and researching various thoughts and philosophies behind owning up to whatever it might be, I was struck by how many people linked personal accountability to a worldview…meaning that accountability is not just about you or me. It's about how it affects all of us and beyond.

If you review my past IMAGINE ramblings where I discussed accountability, I think you will find the theme of personal accountability and team relationships dominant. And, if you follow the logic trail, it makes sense. If you accept accountability, others tend to coalesce around you. We appreciate, respect, and trust the person who puts their hand up and is ready to accept liability, if necessary, and we are ready to follow them forward..vs the Buck Passer who we all run from…. 

How about this? Integrity and accountability are in a natural symbiotic relationship. They naturally follow each other…build on each other. If I have integrity, chances are I am amongst those who also accept accountability for my actions—n'est-ce pas? And if I show accountability….you get the picture. 

Think about it. Integrity and accountability impact us all. They are not solely the glue for a partnership—they are a condition. Without integrity and accountability, the team fails. 

“Upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.” —Alexander the Great

We are all linked—like it or not. Believe it or not, we are. In the business world, our clients see us (for example, in my world) as part of a service team, a company, a bigger company, and an industry. In our personal lives, we are all part of multiple ecosystems that intersect and impact each other in ways that get more complex every day. 

Bottom line: We need to be able to count on each other…our global future depends on it.

What’s your view?