Accountability - What does it look like?

[MrGap92]

I was wondering this after a recent post and thought it would make for a worthwhile topic.

If you are the GM or Head Coach, how do you hold yourself accountable?  Not only that, how do you hold those who report to you accountable?

Does accountability simply equate to firing? Or is there more to it.

I have seen many posts about Daboll and Schoen not being held accountable. But I have not seen any suggestions on how that be done aside from firing. And I have not seen anything on how they should hold themselves accountable.

What are your thoughts, and what does that look like to you?

[MightyGiants]

I was wondering this after a recent post and thought it would make for a worthwhile topic.

If you are the GM or Head Coach, how do you hold yourself accountable?  Not only that, how do you hold those who report to you accountable?

Does accountability simply equate to firing? Or is there more to it.

I have seen many posts about Daboll and Schoen not being held accountable. But I have not seen any suggestions on how that be done aside from firing. And I have not seen anything on how they should hold themselves accountable.

What are your thoughts, and what does that look like to you?

In the NFL there is limited accountability.   For players, there is more accountability as the value of their contracts, playing time, or even their roster spot is dependent on performance.

In coaching, there is little a team does in terms of accountability.  Do a bad enough job, and you get fired.  If you are a coordinator calling plays, that could be taken away from you.  That is pretty much the extent of coaching accountability.

The front office has even less accountability.  Short of losing your job, there is nothing that NFL teams do in terms of holding the staff accountable.

That all said, I was taught that in management, it's best not to use heavy-handed tactics like firings.  A skilled leader/manager can create a culture of accountability where the people you are leading want to be and expect to be accountable.  Everyone will try and do their best because that is the expectation they and the organization have.    That sort of culture is easier said than done.  It requires careful and constant cultivation.   You also need to appreciate that people will be people, and they will look at others who are employed by the team.  If they see others who are not trying that hard and not being held accountable, there will be a strong urge to emulate them them.  After all, it's so easy to give in to the temptation of:  "If they aren't going to give a 100%, why should I bust my butt?"

[jimc]

"Being held accountable." To me means to justify your actions and how they were or were not in line with the business philosophy.

[T200]

"Being held accountable." To me means to justify your actions and how they were or were not in line with the business philosophy.

I think that's the biggest reason Schoen and Daboll are back.

As much as I have been an advocate to keep them, those that wanted them gone (and probably still do), they are 100% justified.

But in those conversations, accountability goes both ways. Schoen and Daboll undoubtedly expressed to Mara that he did not give them the leeway to enact their plans. His meddling interfered with their plan. As a man of integrity, he had to acknowledge his role in this mess and allow them at least a year, without his interference.

I say all that to be completely nullified by his statements during his announcement of their return! Soooooo... what the hell do I know?!?     

[LennG]

 
To me it's simple, you are held accountable for your actions. When accountability gets too much you are fired. What more is there to say. You may leave a lot of wake behind, but how can you be held more accountable than to simply be fired?

[Woody]

To me it's simple, you are held accountable for your actions. When accountability gets too much you are fired. What more is there to say. You may leave a lot of wake behind, but how can you be held more accountable than to simply be fired?

Agreed....but the last two opening day games have been a disaster.....the team was not ready to play and got rolled over.
Daboll is totally responsible for these two disaster days.
He can hold himself accountable by changing preseason routine with an emphasis on having the team mentally and physically prepared to be ready for opening day.
If they start the year the same way for three years in Aron it will set the stage for another long year. I am not saying they have to win or else ....but they need to compete with whoever their opponent is on opening day.


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[kartanoman]

In the NFL there is limited accountability.   For players, there is more accountability as the value of their contracts, playing time, or even their roster spot is dependent on performance.

In coaching, there is little a team does in terms of accountability.  Do a bad enough job, and you get fired.  If you are a coordinator calling plays, that could be taken away from you.  That is pretty much the extent of coaching accountability.

The front office has even less accountability.  Short of losing your job, there is nothing that NFL teams do in terms of holding the staff accountable.

That all said, I was taught that in management, it's best not to use heavy-handed tactics like firings.  A skilled leader/manager can create a culture of accountability where the people you are leading want to be and expect to be accountable.  Everyone will try and do their best because that is the expectation they and the organization have.    That sort of culture is easier said than done.  It requires careful and constant cultivation.   You also need to appreciate that people will be people, and they will look at others who are employed by the team.  If they see others who are not trying that hard and not being held accountable, there will be a strong urge to emulate them them.  After all, it's so easy to give in to the temptation of:  "If they aren't going to give a 100%, why should I bust my butt?"

Hi Rich @MightyGiants .

Since you asked, how about an outside view calling out an organization's ineptitude through not only its hiring practices, but WHO represents those they inevitably hire. We talk endlessly about this through the Football Giants' prism; however, another pillar of the NFL has recently been exposed in public which brings up some interesting points which are worth a read and ARE applicable to the Giants:

The Chicago Bears just got outed as prime offenders in NFL's old boys' club scheme

Interesting.

Peace!

[Bob In PA]

f you are the GM or Head Coach, how do you hold yourself accountable? 

Mr.G: I think you're probably asking the wrong question, at least with regard to the the NFL.

The pay is (in a sense) insanely high so there's temptation to not even consider how (or whether) to hold yourself accountable. It's tempting to simply avoid considering the issue you're talking about

Whether it's ego or greed, some (or all?) GM's and head coaches seem to be governed by the primary goal of not losing their jobs (rather than anything requiring self-reflection, IMO.

Bob

[T200]

To me it's simple, you are held accountable for your actions. When accountability gets too much you are fired. What more is there to say. You may leave a lot of wake behind, but how can you be held more accountable than to simply be fired?

So, is there any accountability other than firing?