The Singing Scoutmaster: Accountability

Scouts, let me tell you about two kinds of people. The first kind, when something goes wrong, says things like: 'It wasn't my fault,' or 'Nobody told me,' or 'Someone else was supposed to do that.' The second kind says something much harder: 'I messed up. Here's what I'm going to do to fix it.'

Accountability means owning your actions - all of them. The ones you're proud of, and the ones you wish you could take back. When your patrol's campsite isn't cleaned up and you were on the cleanup crew, accountability means saying 'I didn't do my part' instead of pointing fingers at everyone else.

Here's the surprising thing about accountability: people actually respect you more when you own a mistake than when you try to hide it. Think about it. When someone admits they were wrong and takes steps to make it right, don't you trust them a little more? But when someone always has an excuse, you start wondering if you can count on them at all.

Accountability also means giving yourself credit when you do something well. It's not bragging to say 'I worked hard on that and I'm proud of the result.' Owning your wins is just as important as owning your stumbles.

This week, catch yourself the next time you're tempted to make an excuse. Instead, try the three steps: own it, fix it, learn from it. That's what accountable people do, and that's what Scouts do.