Stop treating ‘accountability’ like a dirty word

When I was in HR, I watched managers dodge conversations about accountability like they were land mines. Not because they didn’t care, but because accountability had become synonymous with one thing: firing. Accountability has become corporate profanity. Because when you say it, everyone braces for impact. Here’s what needs to change: Accountability isn’t a disciplinary action. It’s a process. And when managers treat it that way—starting from day one, not “today’s your last day”—everything changes. The problem isn’t accountability. It’s the timing. {"blockType":"mv-promo-block","data":{"imageDesktopUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2026\/01\/i-169-Ashley-Herd.jpg","imageMobileUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2026\/01\/i-11-Ashley-Herd.jpg","eyebrow":"","headline":"\u003Cem\u003EThe Manager Method\u003C\/em\u003E","dek":"Want practical leadership development training that actually sticks? Visit managermethod.com to learn more and order Ashley Herd’s book, \u003Cem\u003EThe Manager Method\u003C\/em\u003E.","subhed":"","description":"","ctaText":"Learn More","ctaUrl":"http:\/\/managermethod.com","theme":{"bg":"#2b2d30","text":"#ffffff","eyebrow":"#9aa2aa","subhed":"#ffffff","buttonBg":"#3b3f46","buttonHoverBg":"#3b3f46","buttonText":"#ffffff"},"imageDesktopId":91478992,"imageMobileId":91478994,"shareable":false,"slug":"","wpCssClasses":""}} Starting at the beginning Most managers wait until something goes wrong to bring up accountability. When an account executive misses their Q2 goal? Here comes the accountability conversation. That feels like a threat. A call center employee gets a one-star rating from a customer? Suddenly, accountability feels like blame. The employee gets defensive and the manager gets frustrated . . . but nothing actually gets better. But what if accountability started at the beginning? Let’s take this