Real Talk: Owning It at Every Level

Quote of the Day: “Accountability isn’t about being perfect. It’s about owning it—with character, clarity, and a little curiosity.”

Start with you. Then bring others with you. That’s real leadership.

Hey friends! If you’ve ever been described as “the real deal” or had people remind you that “things were different back in my day,” then this one’s for you.

I’m a proud Gen X-er in my mid-50s, raised in what I like to call the "feral generation"—you know, the kind of childhood where streetlights signaled bedtime, seatbelts were optional, and we solved problems with duct tape (and a lot of gut instinct). We didn’t have Google—just grit, fire, and figuring things out on our own.

And now, here I am, an executive, a leader, and yes, someone who still catches herself thinking, "That’s not how we used to do it!” But guess what? Leadership today? It’s a whole new world.

And right in the middle of it all? Accountability. Not the corporate buzzword kind, but the real, messy, meaningful kind. The kind that shapes how we lead, how we listen, and how we show up for each other every single day.

1. Accountability to Ourselves: Check Yourself Before You Wreck Your Culture

Okay, let’s kick this off with the hard truth: You are where it starts. Accountability to ourselves is the foundation of great leadership. It’s the moment we recognize when our ego is taking over, when we dismiss ideas too quickly, or when we get too comfortable in our own way of doing things.

I remember being 21—bright-eyed, female engineer, full of fire, ready to change the world. I had ideas. I had vision. I had swagger. I really thought they'd be like, "Wow, she’s going to fix everything!"

Spoiler alert: They didn’t.

Turns out, experience doesn’t always make space for the new kid… unless you make space. Now, here I am, on the other side of the desk, and I catch myself saying the very things I once fought against:

• “We’ve tried that.”

• “You don’t get the whole picture.”

• “You’re too young.”

And in those moments, I have to ask myself, “Am I leading with curiosity or just comfort?”

Being accountable to ourselves means staying honest. Staying teachable. And the second we stop owning our own growth, we stop leading. Simple as that.

2. Accountability to Our Teammates: Be the Leader You’d Want to Work With

Now, let’s talk about accountability to your team. And when I say "team," I mean showing up—not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and relationally.

My dad (a blue-collar guy who taught me everything I know about hard work) used to say, “You don’t have to love everyone you work with, but you do have to live with them at work. Be kind. Don’t burn bridges. Listen to the ones doing the real work.”

That stuck with me. Because your team doesn’t need a hero. They need a human. Someone who owns their mistakes, celebrates others’ wins, and says, “I’ve got your back” when things go sideways.

When we hold ourselves accountable for the environment we create, we build trust. And when trust grows, performance follows. Simple, right?

3. Accountability Upward: Respect Is a Two-Way Street

Okay, I saved the hardest part for last: accountability to those above us. Yep, even us “seasoned” leaders have people to answer to. And how we show up matters. A lot.

Being accountable upward means managing up with integrity. It’s about transparency—not just when things are going great, but especially when they’re not. It’s about offering solutions, not just complaints. It’s about owning your role and showing that you're part of something bigger than yourself.

Upper management doesn’t expect perfection—they expect honesty. They want to know you’re owning your lane, lifting your team, and staying aligned with the mission. So, don’t just talk the talk—walk the walk.

The Full Circle of Accountability

So here’s the deal: Accountability isn’t a checklist—it’s a rhythm. It’s daily. It’s sometimes uncomfortable. And it’s always worth it.

You hold yourself accountable because your team is watching. You support your teammates because leadership is a shared experience. And you respect your leadership because, guess what? They’re watching too.

Be the leader who owns their story—the one who balances confidence with curiosity, experience with openness, and standards with grace. Because, at the end of the day, accountability isn’t about perfection—it’s about integrity in motion. And that? That’s the kind of leadership worth following.