What Everyone Needs To Know About Responsibility

Responsible for your work

Everyone has obligations, whether it is at home or work. But the workplace is filled with them, often listed in our job description, letting us know what they are in charge of. But, there's occasions when obligations get pushed around, or even passed along to others to lighten our load.



Yet it is over providing satisfaction

Think about this hard-working worker for the moment. This person shows up at 7:30am every morning, completes their tasks, leaves work at 6:05pm, and manages to get home in time for dinner every evening. Obligations are fulfilled and the quality of the work is satisfactory. They don't push their obligations onto others, nor do they distract themselves with miscellaneous work or non-work related practices (checking their personal social media updates). This person is a success at their job, to a degree.

Becoming accountable for your work

If you are seeking advancement in your position or additional obligations, it will take over satisfying your job duties. It means exceeding what is thought about standard.

At Nordstrom's, the foundation of their goals is customer support at the level the customer needs it. When a customer has a necessity or finds "policies and procedures" stopping them from gaining satisfaction in their interaction, then the worker who is working with that customer has the 'company trust to be accountable to Nordstrom's overall goal' and can make decisions that would better serve the customer and Nordstroms.

Do you know what the Key Performance Indicators are for your position, your department, your company and your corporation? How does what you do every day fit in to and move those indicators inevitably to attainment?

The difference
What's the difference between accountability and responsibility? An accountable employee is able to handle their customer's situation themselves. If they made the sale, an accountable employee realizes that they are responsible for the sale until and long after it has been fulfilled. They handle the client with care, possibly requesting a way to reach them when the information or product is found. The accountable employee contacts the delivery department or courier service to find out what has gone awry. These tasks are quick, and often much easier for an employee to find than they would be for a wandering customer who is waiting on hold with a slightly irritated expression on their face.
Accountability is a step above responsibility, and because this employee are empowered to be accountable to the client they were serving, they are successful in their work.
The responsible employee manages the situation to the extent of their satisfactory work, whereas the accountable employee does whatever it takes to ensure their work is successful. The accountable employee shows signs of leadership, able to take control of the situation without having to be told what to do. If you are to be successful, you must show leadership and accountable qualities as you accomplish your responsibilities.
Accountable employees do not confuse activity with accomplishment. They understand that it's more important to be effective than merely efficient. And, they deliver something that's most precious to them - their hearts and mind.
In your work place or your business, do you empower accountability?