Responsibility vs. Accountability

Introduction and Purpose

If you're in a leadership role in business, you've no doubt heard discussions of the difference between responsibility and accountability. As a conscientious business manager always looking for self-improvement, you'll naturally want a good understanding of this difference, and how you can develop both attributes in yourself and your subordinates.

You can find countless articles on the web on the topic of "Responsibility vs. Accountability", read them all, and be no smarter about it. Many of the articles contradict each other or even themselves! Others use vague terms when supposedly clearing up the distinction, while others conclude the concepts overlap and thus lose on the point of their article. Some are clearly written by people just looking to market themselves as knowledgeable or inspirational mentors of business leaders while throwing in a bunch of smart-sounding phrases and offering little of value on this topic.

If you're a business manager, you should:

1. Figure out whether there is or ought to be a distinction in the concepts of responsibility and accountability.
2. If so, define and understand them so they can provide functional, practical guidance in managing money, tasks, and people.

Let's do it. This article is long, but stay with it. It's guaranteed to be worth your while, because below you will learn:

1. Some definitions people propose, and why they don't work;
2. How the words overlap semantically;
3. The J.D. Fox Exec definitions that make complete, functional distinctions between the words, with nothing vague or overlapping;

With this understanding, you will:

1. Assume tasks with clarity of who you report to and what you must do;
2. Make decisions confidently;
3. Know who reports what to you;
4. Know whose money is at stake and how to defend yours;
5. Educate others on what they are responsible and accountable for to help them make better decisions in their lane.