Accountability for Transforming Relationships
By Pushpa Iyer and Jacob Dwyer
We discussed the word accountability in our fifth WordView discussion. Accountability is a buzzword today, and we were keen to explore the word to emerge with some clear understanding of what constituted accountability and how we could all become more accountable. One thing we were sure of -- accountability was not something to be desired or hoped for but a strategy that we all needed to explore and adopt. As always, we had a fascinating input of ideas, thoughts, and suggestions from our network. Read below to know our thoughts and to get a bird' eye view of our conversations.
What is the difference between accountability and responsibility?
Jacob: This dynamic was interesting as people had various perspectives on the differences between these two words. Accountability, or holding someone 'to account' for something, can hold a stronger connotation than what one's responsibility would be. Accountability means one person or group must explain why something was done or not done and make amends, while responsibility is forward-looking, allowing the responsible one the opportunity to prove themselves. So, in a way, accountability is borne of responsibility, forcing others to step in and make due on one's original promises.
Pushpa: I was particularly struck by one of the speaker's explanation of accountability as coming from "to account for" and its close ties to legal speak. It was helpful for me to see how accountability is something you are unequivocally tied to, and therefore there is not much to negotiate there. And yet, what accountability is and how someone can be held accountable is something an organization or community must decide together. Once decided, accountability becomes almost binding like a legal agreement. This explanation requires us to communicate with others to understand accountability, whereas responsibility is usually asked of us or expected of us by others. I enjoyed thinking about responsibility and accountability in this manner. I must say that many others thought accountability came from within and that understanding of accountability was what I went into the discussion with. I thought that only when we were accountable to ourselves had we reached the ability to do the right things or minimize harm to others, but the need for communication to negotiate what accountability meant and would look like was my main takeaway. Communication, communication, communication - we need more and more of this.
What is the difference between accountability and 'cancel culture'?
Jacob: When reading about instances of 'canceling' someone, we often hear that it is just a way to hold them accountable for their actions. In some ways, the act of 'canceling' seems to be a modern version of boycotting - refusing to pay for a good or service because we disagree with the values or methods of production. However, successful boycotts focused their efforts on making changes within institutions, not individuals. Here is where the act of 'canceling' someone diverges - focusing on the individual rather than the systems that are allowing, and at times supporting, discriminatory or harmful behavior. In reflecting upon how we foster accountability within individuals, calling them out seemed the wrong approach. Instead, by engaging the individual and understanding where they come from, but also raising how their actions cause harm, we can seek to make them an ally rather than an enemy.
Pushpa: I heard most people say that accountability and cancel culture were not synonymous. It was heartening to learn that almost everyone agreed that cancel culture was more about shaming and less about accountability. My personal views matched that of the others who spoke. I think cancel culture does nothing to change the system by punishing individuals and not the entire system. Come to think of it, even the legal system allows people to argue their motivations and intentions behind their actions, but the moral police of cancel culture pass unilateral judgments. So, I don't think cancel culture and accountability are the same, even though advocates of cancel culture say they are only asking for accountability. We may disagree on what constitutes accountability.
What tools exist for creating a culture of accountability?
Jacob: Any culture change is hard work and requires time and targeted, consistent effort to succeed. That said, we uncovered some entry-level tools for creating a culture of accountability that can be adopted by organizations, institutions, and communities. For example, to have a culture where we can hold one another accountable, we need to identify our shared values as a group. Then, we need to answer: "What drives us to be better, stronger, more cohesive?" This way, when an act of harm or discrimination is committed, we can discuss the situation in terms of the shared values we all hold. However, humans are not stagnant, and our perspectives may shift with time. So, similarly, value-centric conversations cannot be one-offs. Instead, having check-ins, forums, and opportunities to develop deeper understandings of one another allow us to foster a culture of accountability while also navigating the dynamism of our group.
Pushpa: This discussion was most interesting for me. We learned so many new tools for how to create a culture of accountability: (A) a value-based discussion - identifying values and having a discussion around values rather than just asserting who you are (b) asking people to finish statements such as "I am hurt with your statement because…..", I believe….because…..", (c) "get your but out of ther way" strategy (one where you get defensive and include a ‘but’ in your statements, (d) doing constant self-reflection. We also discussed ego and fear that may present challenges when trying to create an accountability culture.
Our conversation ended with us sharing our takeaways and the resolutions we were all taking to become more accountable to ourselves and one another. Thanks to all who came, and we look forward to the next discussion on Forgiveness on Nov. 11.