Trust is at the heart of every high-functioning, productive, and purpose-driven veterinary team. Embedded within that is a powerful force: accountability. So, where does accountability begin? The answer is simple yet profound: “Accountability begins with me.” Anything less falls short. It starts in the mirror for each veterinary team member, regardless of position. Together, we will explore the traits that define accountability, identify common biases that undermine it, and outline actionable strategies for building personal accountability. Micro-goal setting may help to establish accountability by task switching, being fully present in the task at hand, and focused with intention in patient surgical preparation. Photo courtesy Rebecca Rose It begins with you When I ask veterinary team members, “How many of you wish your coworkers were more accountable?” Every hand goes up. Then I ask, “How many of you hold yourselves accountable?” Again, all hands rise. That contrast always gives me a chuckle. The irony and bias are clear and alive. The truth? We expect others to be more accountable than we expect of ourselves. Real accountability starts with you—in every moment, every decision, and every response. A quote from Amy Edmondson, PhD, Novartis Professor of Leadership at Harvard Business School, states, “I define accountability as psychological ownership. It’s an internal commitment to do everything you can to uphold standards of excellence and to contribute to achieving the team’s goals.”1 Too often, we expect a fulfilling life, career satisfaction, healthy relationships, and financial stability to just “happen.” The reality? These outcomes require intentional effort and personal responsibility. Yes, a deeply satisfying life is possible—even in today’s chaotic, ever-changing world—if you commit to being 100 percent accountable for your actions, decisions, and growth. When embracing personal accountability, an individual will take responsibility, admit mistakes, not make excuses, be timely, and show up, sleeves rolled up ready to dive deep into whatever they have deemed importantly valuable in their life and career. What does your list of accountability look like? Know thyself Greek philosophers—yes, that far back—identified the challenges in knowing thyself. Seeking self-awareness may be considered an injunction to understanding the unconscious mind. Take time to reflect upon your accountability, time to be still, ask yourself: Where do I excel in accountability? Where can I improve? This self-awareness exercise is the first step to meaningful change. Too often, we go through each day without reflecting on the waves we are creating or perpetuating or even the calm we bring to the stage. When answering the questions in accountability, you may be surprised to learn that there may have been a personal bias brewing in the background. In one of my previous columns, “Testing Assumptions Related to Biases,”2 readers learned everyone has biases. It is the way we are wired. The magic occurs when there is conscious knowledge of bias. Whether someone reacts from that awareness or not is a point of accountability. When we consider self-reflection, possibly identifying skills better than they are, as determined by a supervisor, then Naïve Realism or Blind Spot bias may have taken over. So, the individual who truly wants to understand their level of accountability (at home, while working in the veterinary practice, within a volunteer organization) will simply ask for feedback. Easier said than done. Seeking feedback is the epitome of accountability, and it can be scary. “Receiving feedback basically is about absorbing information and using it as an opportunity for personal and professional development. Receiving feedback, with an open heart and mind, with patience and understanding, shows grit, leadership, and resolve,” is the advice given in “Giving the Gift of Team Feedback.”3 Go ahead! Instead of looking in the mirror for traits of accountability, ask for a different perspective from a family member, peer, or leader within an organization you participate in. Seek feedback purely as information, considering self-awareness in accountability. A monstrously big first step. I am proud of you for considering it. Prouder when you complete the exercise in accountability. Tool for your toolbox: Adjusting personal habits Whew, take a breather to let all that sink in. Accountability begins with you, in all instances. Exemplifying the traits in accountability, whether the list is extrapolated at work from expectations in showing up (prepared, on-time, admitting mistakes, etc.), it can be a lot to pull together. Let’s face it, learning and growing include the skills in time management, prioritizing, and valuing, and this is wrapped in an accountability package. I found reading Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People4 hugely beneficial. The classic remains a cornerstone in personal accountability. It provides timeless guidance on how to create meaningful changes: Be proactive. Take full responsibility for your life. Begin with the end in mind. Clarify your values and goals. Put first things first. Prioritize what truly matters. Think win-win. Seek mutual benefit in all interactions. Seek first to understand, then be understood. Practice deep listening. Synergize. Collaborate for better solutions. Sharpen the saw. Invest in continual growth and renewal. In closing, remember to hold yourself accountable. Accountability is a daily decision. Look in the mirror, show up with integrity, and be present, and stay open to feedback. Your life’s journey and team are counting on accountability. Accountability may appear as showing up prepared, being on time, or admittingmistakes (especially in the realm of miscalculated medications). Photo courtesy Rebecca Rose 4 practical tips for personal accountability Know there are simpler, tangible ways to step into each day, more accountable. Keeping it simple is always a good mantra in self-discovery and embracing new ideas, becoming habits. These tips reinforce the need to seek feedback. 1) Set and accomplish micro-goals • Break large objectives into smaller, measurable wins. • Example: Update New Puppy Kits as a mini-goal toward a full inventory overhaul. 2) Stay focused • Multitasking leads to errors. Practice task switching with intention and concentration. • Example: focus on putting a surgical pack together, stop where you are with intent (whether complete or not), switch to being present with a client and patient in the exam room, then switch back to the surgical pack. 3) Leverage your strengths • Identify what you do well and grow it. Acknowledge weaknesses and actively improve. • Example: a strength in surgical skills may create a weakness in client communication. Continue to finetune surgical skills and actively pursue education in client communication. 4) Seek feedback • Give and receive feedback openly. Feedback is not judgmental; it is informative. • Receiving it with curiosity builds resilience and leadership. • Example: Ask a trusted colleague with skills in providing appropriate feedback to help with traits specific to accountability. Rebecca Rose, RVT, CCC (certified career coach), CPEP (certified peaceful euthanasia professional), has a diverse background serving the veterinary community as a credentialed team member and leader, with more than 38 years of experience. Rose has worked in and managed veterinary clinics, collaborates with industry partners, authors articles and books, and facilitates engaging team workshops. She was recently appointed to the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine as one of the first RVT members. References Psychological Safety and Accountability, Dr. Amy Edmondson, Neuro Leadership Institute, March 2024, https://neuroleadership.com/your-brain-at-work/psychological-safety-and-accountability-insights-from-amy-edmondson Testing Assumptions Related to Biases, Rebecca Rose, Veterinary Practice News, September 2021, https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/testing-assumptions-related-to-biases/ Giving the Gift of Team Feedback, Rebecca Rose, Veterinary Practice News, July 2018, https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/giving-the-gift-of-feedback/ Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey, September 1990, https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People/dp/0671708635
