Accountability in Interpersonal Relationships

"I made a mistake." "I hurt your feelings." "I thought I knew how to do this, but I now realize that I don't." "I didn't do what I said I would do." "I dropped the ball." "I said something that I shouldn't have said." "I overstepped." Those are all important #accountability phrases that we should be using more. They don't aim to shift blame to the other person. They don't try to weasel out of responsibility. They don't try to minimize the impact. They DO set the foundation for righting wrongs, making amends, and repairing relationships. Especially if you fix it the first time. I use these phrases with my 22 year old twins as I try to navigate new boundaries and ways of being a mom to them in their new(ish) adult lives. I am messing up and owning it. And fixing it. And staying open to feedback. (And only occasionally asking for grace). If these aren't phrases that are common in your home and/or office, here's an idea: Post them somewhere that folks can see them in meetings or meals. Discuss why they're important. Start using them yourself. Give frequent reinforcing feedback to others when they use them. And then see how your #culture of accountability feels in a few months once these are part of way of being with each other. #communication #relationships #leadership #ownership @FeltTipFeelings

A CEO once brought me in to coach his leadership team. Productivity was slipping, accountability was weak, and despite a great company culture, tough conversations were being avoided. I sat down with the CEO, and within a few minutes, the issue became clear. "I’ve built this company with people I trust—friends, even. But now, when things go wrong, I struggle to call it out. I don’t want to ruin relationships." That hit hard. I’ve seen it before: leaders torn between maintaining friendships and making the right business decisions. One key executive was missing deadlines, affecting the entire team. The CEO knew it but hesitated to address it. “He’s been with me since day one. How do I hold him accountable without making it personal?” Here’s what I told him: 👉 Leadership isn’t about choosing between friendship and accountability. It’s about finding balance. 👉 True friends don’t just support you—they challenge you to be better. 👉 Avoiding tough conversations doesn’t protect relationships. It weakens them. With guidance, he had the conversation. Not as a boss reprimanding an employee—but as a leader setting expectations. The result? The executive didn’t walk away—he stepped up. Their friendship remained intact because it was built on respect, not avoidance. P.S. Leadership is about making the hard decisions without losing the human connection. #Leadership #Accountability #BusinessGrowth #TeamManagement #ExecutiveCoaching #ToughConversations #CompanyCulture #Productivity #LeadershipDevelopment #Entrepreneurship

You've been lied to. Relationships aren’t built on trust. They’re built on 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺. Trust is just the result. I once trusted someone with everything. I believed their words. I forgave their mistakes. But they kept showing up late. Missing deadlines. Making excuses. And I kept covering for them— because I trusted them. Then one day, I realized something: They didn’t break my trust. They 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘥 it was never earned. The people who’ve made the biggest impact on me? They weren’t always the closest to me. But they were always the 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵. • Trust is a byproduct— not the foundation. • You can 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 someone and still not be able to count on them. The strongest relationships, at work or in life, are rooted in: • Clear communication • Consistent follow-through • Accountability when things go wrong When you rely on someone and they 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘱— That’s what builds trust. Not feelings. Not promises. In audit, it’s not about trusting the client— it’s about testing consistency. • You’re not rude for verifying. • You’re responsible for confirming what’s real— not what’s assumed. Great audit relationships are built through: • Consistent conversations • Follow-up and follow-through • Owning the process—not the politics Think about your most trusted relationship. Was it built on words—or behavior? If you’re building a relationship— personally or professionally— stop focusing on trust. Start showing up.