What is Accountability?

My journey to discovering why my success cannot be granted by anything besides my actions and how I apply it professionally.

Growing up in Indiana, basketball was more than just a sport; it was a way of life. My grandpa, my mentor on the court, taught me the game's intricacies. I remember the countless hours spent mastering dribbling with my non-dominant hand. His words, “You can fumble-dribble-fumble, but you can’t dribble-fumble-dribble,” were a testament to the importance of consistency and perseverance.

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But as the years went by and my interests shifted to the guitar, one lesson from the basketball court remained etched in my memory. “Follow through on the ball after it leaves your hands.” This wasn’t just about perfecting a jump shot. It was about understanding the importance of seeing things through to the end, ensuring that every action was deliberate and purposeful. Just as following through on a shot ensures its accuracy, taking responsibility for our actions and being accountable for the outcomes is crucial in life.

The Principle

As humans, we face the fundamental choice of life or death. Our primary pursuit is to live, and we use reason to identify the principles necessary to realize this decision. For if we do not, we will idly wither. To make choices required to live, we must rely on the principle of causality.

First, we need to recognize that everything in existence has its own unique qualities and traits. Every entity or thing has specific attributes that determine how it behaves or functions. For instance, a rock perched on a hill cannot act as a helium balloon would. This concept of actions being determined by nature is encapsulated in the law of causality: a rock rolls down a hill due to Earth's gravitational pull, behaving in a manner true to its nature, unlike a balloon.

Understanding the concept of causality means acknowledging and choosing actions that align with a particular objective. To take action means to be certain about its underlying motive. As an accountable man, I only act when I'm completely aware of the reason for that action. I set attainable goals based on the information available to me; they are not overly challenging or too simple. I fully realize that my success cannot be granted by anything besides my actions!

The Application

I'm proud of the method I've developed over time to enhance my accountability. Here’s an overview of what’s been working for me at Welli:

1. What is the timeline? Be aware of your team's iteration cycle. A "sprint" can vary in duration: from one week to two weeks or even a month.

   Welli example: we move fast, so we have one-week sprints!

2. Who is the team? Also, it's important for you to know the members of your team and the skills they have to achieve a goal. Ensure that the goals align with the capabilities of your team's expertise.
   Welli example: We’re a well-rounded, lean team of design, engineering, and product expertise!

3. What is the goal? Think about what you aim to accomplish by the sprint’s end. Summarize this in a single sentence to define it as the "Sprint Goal."
   Welli example: “Create plugin prototype and finish landing page styling.”

4. What are the actions? Consider the actions needed to reach that objective. You're mapping out the path to a desired endpoint—list all the thoughts that come to you without stressing about it being comprehensive.
   Welli example: “Scaffold the plugin,” “Apply new font to the landing page,” “Write x config for the plugin,” etc.

5. Define “done”. The actions outline the measures you'll undertake, but how will you ensure you're prepared to proceed? Documenting this is essential as you formulate your steps.
   Welli example: Scaffolding the plugin means I have a development branch to reference a fresh plugin instance. I have simple tests as placeholders. It builds successfully, and no warnings or errors have been introduced.

6. Who owns this? We've determined that your team is equipped to pursue this goal. Since individual talents are better suited for specific tasks, delegating responsibilities now might be advantageous (or evident).
   Welli example: I’m responsible for the tech stack!

7. Sync often. With tasks allocated and the objective set, it's time to work! Remember to track progress and pivot as needed.
   Welli example: Meeting every morning at 10 am works wonderfully for us.

8. Review your progress. Once the sprint concludes, evaluate whether you met your objective. Based on the outcome, modify the goal for the upcoming sprint. Ensuring that the “Sprint Goal” remains attainable is crucial for keeping team spirit high!

Recording matters like this is growing more significant to me. I find joy in preserving and sharing our methods. Everything begins with our perspective and approach to understanding accountability!

The Virtue

Accountability, deeply ingrained from the lessons of the basketball court taught by my grandpa, embodies the essence of consistency, perseverance, and the unwavering determination to see endeavors through to their end. This philosophy, rooted in the principle of causality, emphasizes every cause has an effect. In a professional setting, this virtue translates into setting clear, attainable goals, delegating tasks effectively, and fostering a collaborative environment. Through continuous review and adaptation, not only are immediate goals met, but a culture of responsibility and growth is also cultivated, ensuring sustained progress and development.

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