I know we’re addicted to lists. Top 10 this, five best that. JustMeans recently posted the top 10 most commonly used words in Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR. Rather than be concerned with what words are coming out of our mouths, let’s consider their possibilities to change the world.
10- Accountability
Seems to be a pretty difficult one to grasp these days, with oil spilling into the gulf and corporate headscratchers trying to figure out which way to turn. The President stepped forward and took responsibility for the environmental disaster, even though he didn’t cause the spill. Still he got beat up for it. Is that how we value someone “being accountable?” What about when someone flicks a cigarette out of a car window or chooses to disregard a recycling opportunity?
Voters are wanting, waiting, wringing their hands even to see more political leaders be accountable for their actions, and in fact, make the tough decisions to do what’s right for the country or their community, versus what’s right for their re-election. I wonder why we look to them, instead of at ourselves for holding them accountable.
But accountability isn’t just for the public or the private sector. The people who make up those sectors, including the nonprofit sector, are the ones who set the tone, establish guidelines, choose every day whether to act with integrity and thoughtfulness for the implications beyond their own world.
However, accountability, in fact, starts with you and me, ends with you and me, and impacts all of us. We choose to call someone out if they act inappropriately. We choose to expose a wrong. We choose to decide what to do when facing a complex or simple decision of right and wrong, personal gain versus greater good. So while the word accountability sits at the proverbial bottom of the pile in the top 10 CSR word list, it’s probably the most critical element of social responsibility. Cause ya know, “green” is just a color or a PR buzz word if you don’t hold yourself and your own actions accountable.
Check back for some thoughts on number 9!
