Accountability: Legalism or Leverage?
Accountability, when properly utilized, is a powerful leadership principle. Leaders realize it can be used for control or instruction, encouragement or manipulation, legalism or leverage.
Tweet ThisSome have forsaken this practical principle, viewing it as unnecessary. Others have accepted a view of accountability as a legalistic tool for management. Accountability is not about legalistically controlling someone’s life but leveraging their strengths. I believe wise leaders see the value of accountability. I addressed this in my previous post on the topic of accountability, Four Reasons Why Wise Leaders Embrace Accountability.
Real biblical accountability is more about the iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17) experience of life than maintaining control over another person’s life. (1Peter 5:2-3). True accountability is about helping someone achieve their personal goals, not placing a set of restrictions on them.
Accountability, like discipleship, is not one-size-fits-all. For example, depending on the age and maturity level of the person being held accountable, you may or may not be a part of determining their personal growth plan. In some cases, you will need to be involved foundationally; and in other cases, you may simply be the person with “skin on” who is intersecting in their life at some necessary point.
I find it interesting that the most mature, disciplined leaders I know are the ones who value accountability the highest. Daniel S. Harkavy, author of, Becoming a Coaching Leader: The Proven Strategy for Building Your Own Team of Champions, has been involved in leadership coaching for many years and is revered as one of the top in his field. His findings were consistent with my own experience – that growing leaders always welcome accountability. Note what he says:
“The topic of accountability has popped up throughout this book, Why? Because it’s a key ingredient to a healthy coaching relationship. When clients come to us, one of the things they are hoping to get is more accountability. They know they need it to stretch and to reach even higher levels of performance. Therefore, value accountability. Don’t regret it or apologize for it. Treat it as a nonnegotiable discipline, and let it perform its critical function.” (page 185)
Once again, I repeat: Accountability is more than a mere form of legalism for control’s sake. It is a vehicle for leveraging people’s skills and strengths – their lives and ministries. What should our response be if we have utilized it improperly or have a negative reaction to it because we have been the victim of it being used improperly in our own lives?
I think it is time for us to apply the scriptures properly, realizing that accountability means living life together. The Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-12, challenges the people to “walk worthy of God,” (v.12). The premise of Paul’s challenge is this, he is “leveraging them to godliness” by his own life. This is what true biblical accountability is all about.
Who are you holding accountable? Who is your accountability partner?
