Do you hold yourself accountable?

Remember the old “Family Circus” comic and the character “Not Me”? Who knew that little ghost would follow us into the workplace?

Every team, at some point, runs into the dreaded “That’s not my job” or “We’re not responsible for that” mindset—especially when something urgent needs fixing. It’s a classic move, but it’s poison for team culture. And by team, I mean the entire organization.

Dodging accountability is like a hockey defenceman refusing to support the offence, or forwards never helping out on defence. Success isn’t about staying in your lane—it’s about stepping up for the team, no matter your role. Strong leadership encourages everyone to take ownership of their mistakes and learn from them.

Here’s the truth: the most challenging part of accountability is saying, “My fault.” But we’re all human—mistakes will happen. What matters is how you respond. When someone owns up, the rest of the team should rally to help make things right and prevent it from happening again.

John C. Maxwell’s “Law of Addition” says it best: everyone helps everyone, regardless of title. Building others up is a key way to build a strong organization. My own journey in Jiu Jitsu taught me this—earning my black belt wasn’t just about my own skills, but about helping others grow, pushing each other, and learning together. That’s how real progress happens.

I don’t get hung up on titles. Sure, being a Sr. Partner lets me reach more people, but the real win is seeing others succeed. That’s leadership, lifting people, not standing above them.

Accountability isn’t optional if you want a healthy, high-performing organization. Without it, trust erodes, transparency disappears, and dysfunction spreads. But when you step up and own your actions, you show true leadership, and you’ll find a sense of fulfillment that titles can’t buy.

Let’s discuss how to create a team where everyone takes ownership, contributes their part, and helps one another succeed. Reach out at jberriault@berriaultandassociates.com, and let’s start building trust—together.