{"id":2906,"date":"2022-04-16T16:13:42","date_gmt":"2022-04-16T16:13:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/development.cocreate.hu\/2022\/04\/16\/team-traps-the-question-of-accountability\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T15:23:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T15:23:12","slug":"team-traps-the-question-of-accountability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/development.cocreate.hu\/en\/2022\/04\/16\/team-traps-the-question-of-accountability\/","title":{"rendered":"Team traps: the question of accountability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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\u201cIs this really my responsibility?\u201d<\/em> Does this sentence sound familiar? If so, most likely you yourself have already been a member of a team where accountability was worth taking into consideration. Perhaps a team which fell into a trap, which they couldn\u2019t free themselves from alone. But why is accountability a pertinent question for teams and what can be done about this phenomenon? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

In recent times, I have started to observe the teams that I have worked with from a different perspective: the quality and dynamics of accountability in teams, what forms it can take, and what other aspects of teamwork it is connected to.<\/p>\n\n

Let us take a look at two different executive leadership teams.<\/p>\n\n

Members of team A are all very competent in their own areas of responsibility. Each individual focuses on the running of their field as well as possible, to maximize their own success with little awareness of supporting each other and of the challenges others are facing. Collective issues are being raised at weekly meetings where actions are defined but not implemented afterwards. <\/p>\n\n

Members of Team B are also very competent in their respective fields and they do their best to succeed on a personal level. BUT in contrast to Team A, Team B members are fully aware of how their areas\u2019 goals contribute to the success of the whole organization and understand how other member\u2019s achievements affect the entire company. They are willing to sacrifice their own immediate goals for the greater good of the team, which means sometimes they are ready to prioritize supporting each other above their own goals. In most instances when they agree on something, it comes to fruition. They manifest it by reminding each other of the agreement and holding each other accountable. If a team member is facing difficulties they are there for him\/her, they create an emotional safety net. <\/p>\n\n

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Let us examine some of the differences between the two setups:<\/p>\n\n