Self Accountability | Lorne Rubis

Using the Character Triangle to Build Trust

201025 Oct
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Posted inBe Accountable

I promised in a previous post that I would have more on Lisa Gansky’s thought provoking book Mesh. Gansky states that there are seven keys to building trust in a Mesh environment:

Say what you do (manage expectations)
Use Trials
Do what you say
Perpetually delight customers
Embrace social networks and go deep
Value transparency but protect privacy
Deal with negative publicity and feedback promptly and skillfully

Upon reflection, I think the same principles apply to our behavior as individuals in an organization. Self accountability involves delivering on our promises. When we do that; it builds trust with those around us.

Think about each of the seven trust builders above and how you might apply them personally. In Gansky’s book, she points out that San Francisco based Curtis Kimball’s Creme Brulee cart is so popular, he’s attracted 14,000 followers on Twitter. People tweet where he is, flavors offered, etc. Is it possible to create this type of response at work? How do we get fans raving about our work? Why is it important?

Building trust in our work environment is important. When we live in the Character Triangle, we take responsibility for our personal behavior. When we build trust amongst others, people want to work with us and for us.

In the Character Triangle,

Lorne

Kickin’ ‘em You Know Where?

201016 Jun
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Posted inBe Accountable

Thomas L Friedman, NYT columnist and author of The World is Flat, writes in his June 11 Sunday “Week in Review” op-ed, an interesting piece. He refers to a personal letter by a friend of Tom’s, sent to the editor of The Beaufort Gazette in South Carolina, which states essentially that the Gulf Spill ultimately comes from choices you and I make. Blaming BP, the government or any other group for the macro issue is fruitless. That may sound ridiculous when we think about how far removed the vast majority of us are from drilling a well thousands of feet deep. However, we the people established the conditions where we frankly have been and continue to be committed to living off the cheapest oil we can get as our primary source of energy. Of course we expect people to execute the energy supply chain responsibly but our unwillingness to really change the oil paradigm is a bilateral fact. Friedman makes the self accountability argument. We need to take control over what and how we personally take action. Some of it is smaller and in our immediate sphere (e.g. getting rid of our gas guzzlers, planting a garden, supporting the buy local/slow money initiatives). Other action is less direct but equally important, demanding that we pass an energy reform bill that dramatically reduces dependence on Mid-East oil.

The above is not a political argument for one thing or another but a plea for self accountability and forward action. Blame by itself changes nothing and we end up getting kicked where it hurts.

with Character,

Lorne

The Character of a CEO

201011 May
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Posted inBe Accountable

I think the most challenging thing about being a CEO is that you become the They. “‘They should do it this way.” “They don’t see our point of view.” Of course when I was on my journey to the corner office, I can recall being very much the same. I was often critical of They and felt I could do better. I realize that on the path of discovering what true accountability was, I was a neophyte. Thank goodness I’ve learned, but I must constantly remind myself not to fall back on old habits.

When one becomes self-accountable the They word tends to disappear or takes on a different form. When self-accountable people see things in an insufficient state, the FIRST thing these people do is determine what and how something can be done about it. Self-accountable people become the THEY. When constructively criticizing others, suggesting solutions brings value.

If you want to make a difference at work, try bringing self-accountable value to your conversations. I think you will be surprised how different this is.

with Character,

Lorne

Self Accountability – A Lost Art?

20103 May
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Posted inBe Accountable

Frank Rich, the lead Op-Ed writer for the New York Times, on Sunday April 11th, wrote an article questioning whether self-accountability has all but disappeared as a value. Mr. Rich opines on the matter by referring to the blame and finger pointing mastered by many, from Alan Greenspan to of course, Tiger Woods. It seems like everyone has something or somebody to blame. I see this regularly in the everyday workplace as well.

None of us is perfect. But how about each of us taking more responsibility for our own actions and then personally doing something to correct the situation. No blame. No excuses. Accept the situation. Own up to mistakes. Take personal action to fix ourselves first. If we all did that we would model self-accountability as a leadership trait. No need to hire spin masters.

with Character,

Lorne

Character Triangle

Our character is exclusively ours. We define it by how we think and what we do. I believe that acting with Character is driven by what I call the Character Triangle.

What, exactly, is the Character Triangle (CT)?

The CT describes and emphasizes three distinct but interdependent values:

Be Accountable: first person action to make things better, avoiding blame.
Be Respectful: being present, listening, looking again, focusing on the process.
Be Abundant: generous in spirit, moving forward, minimizing the lack of.