Accountability is the condition of having to answer, explain, or justify one’s actions or beliefs to another.

It often includes the possibility that you will be held responsible and punished if your acts cannot be justified, or rewarded if your actions are justified.

The presence of others does not always increase accountability.

As group size increases, accountability can decrease. Through a process called “de-individuation”, people lose their sense of self and become an inseparable part of a collective group.

As group size increases, each individual member becomes less identifiable and consequently perceives him- or herself as less accountable for the actions of the group.

This then reduces the feelings of responsibility and is said to account for the behaviors of people during riots.

Accountability is not a one-time, sometime thing; it’s an all-time thing.

Those people who don’t want to be accountable, or held accountable, are always looking for any opportunities to get out of it.

When people don’t take accountability and things, start to go awry, as they don’t feel ownership they go into “spectator mode” and watch as things fail.

If they thought it would fail from the outset it’s even worse; they go into “I told you so mode”, which nearly always becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The word accountability also means to be held accountable, liable, answerable, or be held responsible for what a person has been given.

“So then, each of us shall give AN ACCOUNT of himself to God.” Romans 14:12 emphasis added.

Paul is writing to Christians here and he just finished asking the Roman Christians,

“Why do you judge your brother?
Or why do you show contempt for your brother?
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ,” Romans 14:10.

This closing quote sums up why accountability is so important, for all of us…..

“Be assured that one who shall always walk faithfully in God’s presence,
always ready to given Him an account of his/her actions,
shall never be separated from God by consenting to sin.”
~ Thomas Aquinas.

 

In His Shadow,
~ Mary Lindow ^©

Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed as long as complete message and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You!

” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
Global Prayer Rooms

---

Mary Lindow has a passion for encouraging others – all generations, careers or vocations to live expressing excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills. She’s a sought after keynote, inspirational, humorous speaker and teacher across the USA and internationally in Ministers & Spiritual leaders Conferences, and training seminars for various organizations.

Back to Top