The spirit of SXSW (South by Southwest) understands an increasingly complex world, with the promotion of reflective experiences, the appreciation of diversity and the sharing of diverse knowledge. This event, which takes place annually in Austin, stands out as one of the main drivers of contemporary innovation.
This was my second participation at SXSW, where I was looking not only to absorb inspiring content, but also to enrich the cultural strategies we developed with our clients. In addition to the wealth of content, the energy from thousands of individuals motivated by positive changes in the world is remarkable, highlighting the vital role of entrepreneurs, leaders and managers.
One lecture caught my attention: accountability. While the term is translated as responsibility, its meaning addresses nuances such as rendering of accounts, control, commitment, transparency and proactivity. In essence, accountability is the obligation to take responsibility for our own actions. In the context of SXSW, Rheet Power, a renowned expert on the Culture of Accountability, had his insight on how this notion is being mainstreamed in various organizations, such as the World Bank and McDonald's.
The discussion about accountability comes at a time when more than 90% of workers in the United States do not realize that their companies and leaders embody this notion in their culture. This perception shows clear consequences: Cloudy corporate and individual goals, lack of shared purpose, cultural fragmentation, and disconnection between employees and key performance indicators. This scenario generates low engagement, insufficient productivity and lack of innovation. A context where individuals did not feel responsible, teams cannot thrive, originating fragmented groups that lack cooperation.
