Accountability shows up in many places and in many ways. Accountability is easy to recognize when someone does what they tell you they are going to do. The lack of accountability is also easy to distinguish when someone fails to deliver on their promise. But, what does accountability have to do with a 10 year old girl helping rescue workers communicate with a deaf woman trapped in a car? Everything!
Yesenia Diosdado, 10, heard a car crash and went to see what had happened. When Yesenia saw the trapped woman was trying to sign to the paramedics, Yesenia stepped up. It would have been easy to hold back, to not get involved. Yesenia had been learning sign language since the age of 1. She could see that the paramedics were struggling to communicate with a deaf woman trapped in the car. Yesenia knew she could help.
Accountability is keeping your commitments to people. Sometimes those commitments are spoken, for instance, “I’ll pick you up at 7:00 for dinner” or “ I’ll get the report finished and in your hands by tomorrow morning.” Sometimes those commitments are unspoken, for example, “I’ll lead our company in an honorable fashion” or “I’ll protect the assets of our clients.” Sometimes those unspoken commitments we have exist on an even deeper and more significant level, from one human being to another. Yesenia believes that if someone is in need, you help them. Her actions clearly tell us that about her.
It is easy to go through life just doing what you say you are going to do, but as human beings our commitments go much deeper then the spoken word. Accountable Leaders look to serve, they look to help other people be their best and they realize that our commitments go beyond just what we promise to do. Our commitments extend into what is right to do!
Of course, it starts with someone believing this first. Based on the actions that Yesenia took we know that she believes in making a difference and doing what must be done to be accountable in those situations. What would it look like if everyone stepped up and was accountable?
