15 Oct THE HIGHER THE CLIMB THE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY MATTERS
Where we set our sights determines the standards needed to succeed. Accountability is how we sustain those standards. Until we know the level of success we want to achieve, we won’t know the standards that need to be set and the activities/behaviours to hold others accountable to in order to make it to the top.
Let’s say we wanted to climb a small hill in the neighbourhood – we’d probably just go do it. No preparation, training, equipment, investment, or team is required because it’s easy and nothing is on the line. But what if we wanted to climb Mount Everest (29,000+ feet)? Things would change dramatically.
Because the two-month long trek is such an intimidating and potentially deadly task, we would need to train intensely, prepare diligently, ensure we had all the right equipment, find a highly competent and capable group of guides to lead us, trust them completely to have our back, and hold people accountable at the highest level to have the best chance of reaching the imposing summit.
This life and death expedition is not one where laziness, forgetfulness, or excuses would be acceptable or tolerated. Lives are on the line – accountability is everything! Preparation, focus, and commitment on the whole team will determine success and at time even survival.
It’s not okay if someone forgot to bring their boots or gloves. It could cost you your life.
It’s not okay if someone wasn’t paying attention and let go of the rope supporting the climbers. It could cost someone their life.
It’s not okay if someone looked out only for themselves and ate all the food supplies that were needed for other people. That’s just selfish.
It’s not okay if someone wasn’t in a good mood that day and didn’t feel like contributing to the team. I call that lazy.
The top portion of the climb above 26,000 feet is actually known as the “Death Zone” because over 200 climbers have died there in their failed attempts to summit Mount Everest.
So, you might be thinking “we’re not climbing Mount Everest” here. The analogy works – the higher you want to climb with your team and the more that is on the line, the higher you must set your standards and the more people must be accountable and hold each other accountable. Failing to hold someone fully accountable can be potentially fatal to the whole team, not to mention our dreams of reaching our own summit.
The higher we want to climb with our team to achieve our goals, the loftier we will need to set our standards, the more we will need to prepare and invest, the less forgiving our margin for error, and the more we will need to hold people accountable. And the less tolerant we can be for people not getting the job done.
If you want to win the game and celebrate as champions:
It’s not okay to decide not to do your workout or practice your skills.
It’s not okay to skip a set in the weight room or decide that one part of the sales process isn’t needed.
It’s not okay to ignore the playbook you and your team have crafted and use the “wing it” system.
It’s not okay to damage your company’s hard-earned reputation by not being a professional.
It’s not okay to miss a sign or not know or execute your team’s plays.
It’s not okay to blame your poor performance on the adverse conditions.
It’s not okay to disrespect your teammates or coaches.
Do you have a “play book”?
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