At a client’s staff meeting last week, we had an interesting discussion about accountability. When someone stated that accountability and adherence to policy and rules were critical, the result was a combination of vehement agreement and visible discomfort, often on the same face. Why? Because this single sentence muddled an important distinction: accountability and compliance.

Accountability puts the focus on outcomes. Compliance puts the focus on rules, policies, control – how things are done – often at the expense of what is achieved.

Accountability creates a level of autonomy as to how results are achieved, which increases a sense of ownership, determination, and creativity. Compliance strips that sense of ownership, transfers responsibility to the controlling forces, and encourages a 9 to 5 mentality.

Accountability allows people to excel, fail, learn, and celebrate success. Compliance causes people to withdraw, take minimal risk, and generally avoid punishment.

Accountability invests time, energy, and talent in the challenges of producing great results. Compliance invests time, energy, and talent in the challenges of watching each other and perfecting the rules.

I am not saying policies and rules are meant to be broken. I am suggesting you examine your culture and your policies and rules:

• Are you trying to control people or provide them with the freedom they need to excel?
• Are you focused internally or externally?
• Are your employees worried about protecting themselves or are they trusting and open?
• Are working conditions (e.g., parking slots, office size and position, flexibility) a form of reward and punishment, a sign of status, authority, and privilege, or are they meant to maximize the effectiveness of each employee?

A compliance culture made sense during the Industrial Revolution. It makes no sense today. You do not want a culture of compliance. You want a culture of accountability. You want to maximize each employee’s sense of responsibility, determination, and ability to make smart decisions. You want to make growth and success your focus, not adherence to rules. If you need a stronger culture of accountability, get started today.