Blame Game Over: Linda Galindo Cites Personal Accountability As Key to Success

| Print Post This | Like (7) | Comments (0)

THESE DAYS, EVERYONE seems to be pointing fingers and assigning blame for everything from the recession to David Letterman's extracurricular activities. But author Linda Galindo says that's not the best way to handle challenges or failed outcomes, especially in the workplace. In her new book "The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success" ($22.95, Jossey-Bass), she urges us to be responsible for our choices and actions. "If your mind-set is that you are at least 85 percent responsible for your success — and that just 15 percent could depend on the way the wind blows —you'll get the results you're looking for," she says. We spoke with Galindo to learn more about taking ownership of one's career.

» EXPRESS: Why is personal accountability so important to business success?
» GALINDO: It isn't an aspect of being successful — it's the aspect of being successful. I emphasize that, because this term "business success" is rarely defined by the individual, so how can they be accountable for something they haven't clearly defined? You are going to be in a really bad place if you don't stop and check in with what your definition of success is on a regular basis. That action of defining success is the pinnacle of being personally accountable. People have goals, but they don't have a definition of success. So, they're always exhausted because they're chasing something they haven't defined.

» EXPRESS: Why are people often reluctant or unwilling to be accountable?
» GALINDO: Because they get rewarded not to be. If I have a boss who rescues, fixes and saves my lack of performance … and [who doesn't] hold me accountable, and I get paid anyway, why would I change my behavior?

» EXPRESS: What role has our society and business culture played in all of this?
» GALINDO: You can't mandate accountability; you can only demonstrate it. And our society hasn't been demonstrating accountability in the sense of owning the outcome of the results, good or bad. I don't want to be mistaken for saying what should or should not have happened. What happened has happened, but I don't see ownership for it. I see excusing, blaming and finger-pointing, and that has been rewarded and continues to be rewarded.

» EXPRESS: Why shouldn't you blame others for your failures, even if a co-worker clearly didn't pull his weight on a project or finish a report on time?
» GALINDO: I can blame and finger-point and explain. But who would you rather be around: someone who says, "Let me tell you all the reasons why that didn't work," or someone who says, "You know, here's what I did, here's what I learned, here's what I would do differently and here's how I am accountable"?

» EXPRESS: Why can't you rely on anyone or anything else to empower yourself?
» GALINDO: No one can empower you. You have an ability to perform work or a service, to interact. If those abilities are lacking, then you can go take classes, you can get feedback from people, you can get coaching. But that's you taking an action. What happens if you take that action is you're more able, you can take on more challenges, and you potentially become more valuable. No one came along and bonked you on the head and said, "I empower you with more ability." Self-empowerment is the only empowerment mind-set that will get you where you want to go.

» EXPRESS: Any tips for being accountable for the outcomes of your choices when those outcomes aren't so great?
» GALINDO: Keep the same definition of accountability whether something works or doesn't work. I can see clearly my accountability when something works, so when something doesn't work, stand in the exact same place. Say, "I didn't hit the mark, I realize what I could do differently going forward, here's what I learned, and here's what could be beneficial to the organization from that learning."

» EXPRESS: What do people stand to benefit by taking this kind of responsibility?
» GALINDO: It's a lot less stressful, it's way more productive, and there's a sense of personal satisfaction because you're not always looking over your shoulder and trying to get other people to be accountable. This huge space is opened up to live your life creatively and purposely. Personal accountability is the most freeing, creative, productive mind-set you could have.

Written by Express contributor Beth Lubrecki
Photo courtesy Wiley