Lao Tzu’s Take On Accountability

A great nation is like a great man

When he makes a mistake, he realizes it.

Having realized it, he admits it.

Having admitted it, he corrects it.

He considers those who point out his faults

As his most benevolent teachers.

He thinks of his enemy

As the shadow that he himself casts.

This is Lao Tzu's take on accountability. What's yours?

Every excuse we ever make, makes perfect sense to us, right? And if it doesn’t, we create a theory that we fit (or force) into our logic, and preferably the logic of others.

Call it self-deception, call it cowardice, call it a lack of accountability – it doesn’t’ really matter all that much what you call it. It is a sad situation how much we are trained, from a very early age, to find the perfect answer to the question, to find that one solution to the problem, to strive for perfection. We seem conditioned to avoid mistakes and ownership.

But without ownership, there is little growth, little trust, little collaboration, little progress, and usually poor business results. Without the self-confidence, humility, and guts to take some chances and own up to mistakes there will be little trust, little accountability, little progress and even little pizazz. 

How can you move from your comfort zone to your courage zone?