Being Intentional

I often explore the landscape of responsibility and a recurring theme is the idea of "giving responsibility" to others. However, I believe responsibility is not given – it's a choice. Accountability, on the other hand, is something that can be assigned or imposed.

Accountability is a useful tool, but it has its limitations. It can create compliance, but not always commitment. It can be enforced, but true responsibility stems from an internal desire to own outcomes and make a difference.

While making someone accountable is often necessary, it's not the most effective way to drive lasting change. People are more likely to adapt and improve when they want to, not when forced. Think of it like leading a horse to water – you can't make it drink.

To foster a truly engaged and empowered workforce, we need to move beyond accountability and focus on personal responsibility for all. Unfortunately it is often easier to create a culture of accountability (with consequences) than one of true responsibility.

When we get it right, creating a culture where personal responsibility is at the core:

All this leads to lower costs, higher quality and increased safety.

How does being intentional factor in here then?

Have you ever found yourself intending to do something, but never quite following through? This disconnect between intention and action is a common obstacle to change. However, by cultivating intentionality, we can unlock a powerful tool for fostering a culture of responsibility.

Being intentional is a key to unlocking the door to responsibility. It's not enough to simply acknowledge our accountability; we must actively choose to take responsibility for our actions, decisions, and commitments. This requires a conscious shift in mindset and a willingness to make intentional choices, even when faced with challenges.

What is “Being Intentional"?

Being Intentional is the practice of consciously making choices aligning to a clear purpose or intent, rather than following our instinctive patterns, habits and behaviours. 

It often entails taking a short pause, reflecting on the decision or action you are about to take, and consciously choosing actions.

Being intentional enables us to adapt, grow and manage situations better, leading to increased engagement and commitment.

This applies to all areas of life; professional and personal. 

Personal Self Management

In a personal context, it can be something as simple as consciously making a call to act upon a prior decision. 

For example, I seek to reduce waste in many everyday activities. I might see dirty dishes and think I should wash them - yet I intentionally pause, reflect on the hot water that will be wasted in the pipe between the boiler to the tap, and determine; can they wait until I can wash more in one go? 

Developing Culture

Building a culture of responsibility at work requires being intentional in many aspects of our day, including how we share insights and observations. We need to be mindful of our communication and the impact it has on others.

For example, instead of immediately criticising an employee's work after a product was delivered with incorrect packaging, a manager might intentionally explore what happened. Perhaps colleagues could have seen something and felt that something wasn’t right. If that was so, would they have been responsible and pointed it out? 

While they may not be directly accountable, their sense of responsibility could have been valuable in preventing the error. 

When everyone feels a sense of responsibility, they are more likely to proactively contribute, ultimately preventing errors, saving resources, and mitigating risks for the organisation. And when aware that colleagues have their back, people are far more likely to be effective and productive. 

Another example of being intentional in the workplace is taking the time to set clear goals and priorities for the day or week. Rather than simply reacting to emails and urgent tasks, we can intentionally plan our work to align with their overall objectives. This not only enhances productivity but also fosters a sense of ownership and purpose. 

Perhaps intentionally open communications about the expectations for the team, with awareness of colleagues’ priorities, would enable greater support for one another - a place where there is a sense of responsibility in helping one another.

Be Intentional for Successful

Being intentional is a powerful tool for personal and organisational growth. It's about choosing our actions consciously, aligning them with our needs and values, and creating a positive ripple effect in our lives and the world around us.

How will you unlock more of the best of yourself by increasing a sense of intentionality?