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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Crucial Accountability summary
Tools for Resolving Violated Expectations, Broken Commitments, and Bad Behavior
11 mins
Brief summary
Crucial Accountability is a guidebook for improving workplace accountability. The authors provide practical tools to help individuals and teams manage violations, broken promises, and poor performance, leading to better relationships and improved outcomes.
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Crucial Accountability
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Key idea 1 of 7
Choose the issue you care about most, and consider whether it should be addressed.
Consider this scenario: you’ve asked your boss for a well-deserved raise several times. Each time he’s promised to make it happen and each time he’s gone back on his word.
Understandably, you’re frustrated. And this feeling intensifies when he singles you out in a meeting to ask that you stop nagging about the raise. When you privately approach him about this public berating, he scoffs that you’re wasting his time and walks off.
Not only has your boss repeatedly broken a commitment, but he’s also disrespected you in front of colleagues and dismissed your valid concerns. You strongly feel that he should be held accountable for his behavior, but where do you start?
The key message here is: Choose the issue you care about most, and consider whether it should be addressed.
Like many things, accountability issues are rarely simple and straightforward. They tend to come in complicated bundles. Before holding an accountability discussion, it’s important to identify the various problems and decide which is most important to you. To do this, think CPR – Content, Pattern, and Relationship.
Here’s an example: the first time a teenager comes home late, the content of breaking curfew is a problem. If she promises to stick to the rules but doesn’t, there’s an additional issue – a pattern of rule-breaking. Let’s say father and daughter discuss the pattern, and there’s a renewed commitment to the rule. But days later, she breaks curfew again. At this point, her father can’t trust her, which means the negative effect on their relationship is yet another problem.
In addition to considering the content, pattern, and relationship, we need to think of consequences and intentions. So, in our father-daughter scenario, the father could be upset about the potential consequences of staying out after curfew, which can be dangerous for a teenager. Alternatively, he might be frustrated by what he assumes are his daughter’s intentions – that she could be breaking the rules just to aggravate him.
After listing all the associated problems and pinpointing what matters most, you’re ready to schedule a chat, right? Well, not quite. You need to decide if the issue actually warrants a conversation.
There are many clues that your accountability issue should be addressed. If you feel hostile towards the other person, you should definitely bring the issue up. Ditto if your conscience is nagging you. But what if you’re avoiding the conversation because you feel helpless, or fear making things worse? This too is an indication that you should speak up – and the following blinks will explain exactly how.
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What is Crucial Accountability about?
Crucial Accountability (2004) tackles the often tricky issue of addressing broken promises and unmet expectations. The book shares tools and steps for holding friends, family, and colleagues accountable for their actions, and enabling them to fulfill commitments and meet future expectations.
Crucial Accountability Review
Crucial Accountability (2013) is an essential read for anyone wanting to improve their ability to hold themselves and others accountable. Here's why this book stands out:
- It offers a practical framework for addressing and resolving conflicts and performance gaps, empowering readers to take action and achieve desired outcomes.
- The book combines real-world examples and case studies to demonstrate how accountability can transform relationships, teams, and organizations, making it relevant and relatable.
- With its straightforward strategies and insightful advice, Crucial Accountability keeps readers engaged, making the topic of accountability anything but boring.
Who should read Crucial Accountability?
- Managers fed up with missed deadlines
- Friends and partners frustrated by broken commitments
- Parents who want to teach their children accountability
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Crucial Accountability FAQs
What is the main message of Crucial Accountability?
Crucial Accountability provides strategies for holding others accountable while maintaining positive relationships.
How long does it take to read Crucial Accountability?
The reading time for Crucial Accountability varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Crucial Accountability a good book? Is it worth reading?
Crucial Accountability is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their communication and resolve conflicts effectively.
Who is the author of Crucial Accountability?
Crucial Accountability is written by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and David Maxfield.
What to read after Crucial Accountability?
If you're wondering what to read next after Crucial Accountability, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson
- Stories for Work by Gabrielle Dolan
- The Storytelling Animal by Jonathan Gottschall
- Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone
- Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
- The Mind's Mirror by Gregory Mone
- Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal with Tantum Collins
- Discipline Is Destiny by Ryan Holiday
- The Game by Neil Strauss
- The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt