Questionnaire Items Measuring Accountability
Accountability skills are crucial for productivity and achieving goals. The main components of Accountability skills include:
- Actions have Consequences: Understanding that accountability means accepting the consequences for actions and performance.
- Individuals are Accountable: Individuals (employees) are accountable for their performance.
- Responsible for Results: Individuals need to take responsibility for their results.
- Problem Solving: Taking ownership of problems to find the best solutions.
- Job Performance: Sets high standards and expectations.
- Response to Setbacks: Accept responsibility for errors or poor performance.
- Informing the Supervisor: Accountability means keeping the supervisor in the loop.
Accountability skills contribute to a manager's success by ensuring that the work gets done right and that all employees are working to support the goals of the department/company.
360-Degree Feedback Questionnaires Measuring Accountability:
Survey 1 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 2 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 3 (5-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 4 (5-point scale; radio buttons)
Survey 5 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 6 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 7 (5-point scale; competency comments; N/A)
Survey 8 (3-point scale; Agree/Disagree words; N/A)
Survey 9 (3-point scale; Strength/Development; N/A)
Survey 10 (Comment boxes only)
Survey 11 (Single rating per competency)
Survey 12 (Slide-bar scale)
360-Degree Feedback Questionnaire Items
The Accountability competency in a 360-Degree Feedback assessment includes items measuring the ability to deal with consequences for actions, hold others accountable, set high standards for performance, work with a high degree of integrity and honesty.
Definition: Accountability means taking responsibility for meeting performance expectations and being answerable for the outcomes. It recognizes that actions have consequences, which reflect our commitment to accountability. When individuals aim for high accountability, their performance improves. Accountability exists in a variety of ways including: performance appraisals/reports, delegation of responsibilities, expectations of results, keeping the supervisor informed, being on time, and treating employees well.
Accountability
- Accepts accountability for their actions and results.
- Takes responsibility for seeing the project through to completion.
- Willingly accepts the obligation to complete the task.
- Accepts accountability for their work.
- Establishes who is responsible for various aspects of the project.
- Is someone who is there when you need them.
- Accepts accountability for their actions.
Consequences
- Accepts personal responsibility for their actions.
- Accepts the consequences for their actions.
- Willing to answer for their own actions and performance.
- Holds employees responsible if expectations are not met.
- Holds employees accountable for meeting performance benchmarks.
- Willingly accepts the consequences for their actions.
- Aware of the consequences for failure to complete the project.
- Demonstrates a commitment to taking responsibility for actions.
- Expects employees to accept the consequences of their actions.
Process and Procedure
- Develops goals and establishes objective measures of success.
- Requires employees to submit monthly reports of the work they performed.
- Projects an image of transparency and trustworthiness in the administration of fair and equitable policies.
- Documents performance goals through an individual development plan.
- Exhibits a sense of ownership of the process.
- Creates a consistent process for prioritizing work.
- Requires employees to submit action plans, timelines or other objectives.
- Requires team members to present progress reports or prepare contingency plans.
Accountability in Others
- Defines roles, rights, and responsibilities of employees.
- Defines roles, rights, and responsibilities of the team.
- Understands the importance of holding employees accountable for their work.
- Expects employees to account for their actions and performance.
- Encourages employees to take on greater responsibilities.
- Encourages colleagues/business partners to take on greater responsibilities.
- Seeks commitment from employees prior to assigning tasks.
- Allows employees to set their own performance goals.
- Encourages employees to set challenging but achievable goals.
Outcomes and Results
- Exhibits a sense of ownership of outcomes and results.
- Takes responsibility for results.
- Takes full responsibility for project outcomes.
- Takes full responsibility for results.
- Accepts responsibility for outcomes.
- Accepts accountability for their results.
- Accepts accountability for results.
- Takes personal responsibility for results.
In Problem Solving
- Tackles issues head on and finds solutions.
- Holds employees accountable for their participation in solving department problems and issues.
- Takes charge of addressing and solving problems.
- Regularly leads the way when helping the team troubleshoot various issues.
- Takes ownership of problems to find the best solutions.
- Commits to leading the initiatives to solving critical issues.
- Accepts responsibility to lead efforts to solving critical problems.
Performance
- Acts like an owner when they make decisions.
- Accepts personal responsibility for producing high quality and timely work.
- Sets clear performance measures.
- Takes personal responsibility for the quality of their work.
- Reviews performance to determine areas for improvement.
- Holds team accountable to meeting goals.
- Holds employees accountable through regular performance reviews.
- Justly applies disciplinary measures.
Errors and Setbacks
- Takes ownership of mistakes and learns from them.
- Takes full responsibility for team's lack of progress.
- Takes responsibility for errors in the production line.
- Continues to work diligently on a problem despite setbacks.
- Acknowledges errors and takes the steps necessary to rectify them.
- Takes responsibility for errors and actively works to correct them.
- Accepts personal responsibility for not meeting expectations.
- Recognizes when a mistake is made and works to correct the issue.
- Takes full responsibility for lack of results achieved.
- Requires advanced warning on problems and issues that will affect completion of tasks.
Organization
- Fully embraces the responsibilities that contribute to our departmental success.
- Works hard to ensure the success of the department.
- Works diligently for the success of the team.
- Is personally invested in the success of the organization.
- Takes responsibility for the direction of the team.
- Takes responsibility for the team's actions and results.
- Implements and facilitates controls and processes that maintain the integrity of the organization.
- Is aware of problems or issues that may affect the organization.
- Remains knowledgeable of Company performance.
Keeps Supervisor Informed
- Keeps supervisor informed of recent events.
- Informs the supervisor if progress on the task has been delayed.
- Consults with the supervisor before engaging in new procedures that have some risk.
- Makes sure the supervisor is always informed of any important events.
- Lets supervisor know of any setbacks to the progress on achieving goals.
- Informs supervisor of progress without having to be asked about it.
- Always keeps the supervisor informed of relevant information.
- Keeps supervisor informed of recent activities.
Integrity and Honesty
- Is someone you can trust.
- Can be counted on to do what they say they are going to do.
- Maintains honesty and transparency in all communications.
- Chooses integrity over convenience.
- Upholds ethical standards even when no one is watching.
- Takes responsibility for their actions and admits mistakes openly.
- Handles sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
- Keeps their word and does what they say they will do.
Expectations
- Honors the commitments and promises made to customers/clients.
- Holds employees accountable for completing the project successfully.
- Consistently follows through on commitments and promises.
- Works to achieve established goals.
- Can be counted on to do their role well.
- Consistently strives to meet high standards of excellence.
- Ensures that employee objectives are aligned with the organization's objectives.
- Follows through on commitments made.
- Takes full responsibility for unmet expectations and makes corrective actions immediately.
- Sets clear expectations for performance.
On Time
- Shows up for work on time.
- Always starts work on time.
- Does not make excuses for missed deadlines.
- Consistently strives to complete work on time or ahead of schedule.
- Does not make excuses for being late for work.
- Holds self and others accountable for meeting the deadline.
- Able to complete required tasks on time and delivered expected results.
- Accepts personal responsibility for the timeliness of work.
- Regularly completes tasks on time.
- Is prepared and on time for meetings and scheduled events.
Accountable to Others
- Welcomes the responsibility for meeting the broad range of needs of stakeholders and clients.
- Consistently exhibits professionalism in interactions with employees.
- Provides clear reasons for underperformance.
- Exhibits good governance in their role as an executive.
- Ensures that employees are compensated fairly and in accordance with established policies.
- Is responsible for the fair and just implementation of the contract with the union.
- Is responsible for ensuring that employees are treated fairly.
Employee Opinion Survey Items
Accountability skills enable employees to be more productive and contribute greater to the company's bottom line.
Accountability
- I know how to take responsibility for seeing the project through to completion.
- My manager holds employees accountable for their actions and results.
- The supervisor establishes who is responsible for various aspects of the project.
- My coworkers accept accountability for their actions.
- I feel coworkers willingly accept the obligation to complete tasks.
- I am someone who is there when you need them.
Consequences
- Everyone in our department accepts the consequences for their actions.
- The manager expects employees to accept the consequences of their actions.
- Employees understand that they must accept personal responsibility for their actions.
- I am fully aware of the consequences for failure to complete this project.
- I willingly accept the consequences for my actions.
- My manager holds employees accountable for meeting performance benchmarks.
- In our department, employees are willing to answer for their own actions and performance.
- My supervisor demonstrates a commitment to taking responsibility for actions.
- The supervisor holds employees responsible if expectations are not met.
Process and Procedure
- The supervisor requires employees to submit monthly reports of the work they performed.
- My manager requires employees to submit action plans, timelines or other objectives.
- The manager develops goals and establishes objective measures of success.
- I have a sense of ownership of the process currently being implemented.
- Supervisors in our department document performance goals and include an individual development plan.
- Our organization projects an image of transparency and trustworthiness in the administration of fair and equitable policies.
- Our team requires team members to present progress reports or prepare contingency plans.
Accountability in Others
- I recognize the importance of managers encouraging employees to take on greater responsibilities.
- Our department encourages its employees to take on greater responsibilities.
- Our department allows employees to set their own performance goals.
- My manager generally seeks commitment from employees prior to assigning tasks.
- The supervisor understands the importance of holding employees accountable for their work.
- My manager encourages employees to set challenging but achievable goals.
- Our team leader defines roles, rights, and responsibilities of the team.
- Division leadership expects employees to account for their actions and performance.
- The department manager is effective in defining roles, rights, and responsibilities of employees.
Outcomes and Results
- The supervisor requires employees to accept the responsibility for our location's outcomes.
- Employees here exhibit a sense of ownership of outcomes and results.
- Employees take full responsibility for project outcomes.
- I feel that my coworkers take personal responsibility for results.
- In my department, employees take full responsibility for results.
- My manager expects employees to accept accountability for their results.
- Employees in our department accept accountability for results.
- I always take responsibility for results.
In Problem Solving
- The team leader commits to leading the initiatives to solving critical issues.
- My manager accepts responsibility to lead efforts to solving critical problems.
- The IT department regularly leads the way when helping the team troubleshoot various issues.
- My manager tackles issues head on and finds solutions.
- Supervisors hold employees accountable for their participation in solving department problems and issues.
- Takes ownership of problems to find the best solutions.
- My supervisor takes charge of addressing and solving problems.
Performance
- I feel performance reviews are effective in determining areas for improvement.
- My manager sets clear performance measures.
- My coworkers accept personal responsibility for producing high quality and timely work.
- Team members take their jobs seriously and act like an owner when they make decisions.
- The team leader holds the team accountable to meeting goals.
- I feel my supervisor justly applies disciplinary measures.
- I take personal responsibility for the quality of my work.
- My manager holds employees accountable through regular performance reviews.
Errors and Setbacks
- Coworkers take responsibility for errors in the production line.
- My colleagues will acknowledge errors and takes the steps necessary to rectify them.
- I take responsibility for errors and actively work to correct them.
- I recognize when a mistake is made and work to correct the issue.
- Our department focuses on continuous learning and colleagues will take ownership of mistakes and learn from them.
- My team members will take full responsibility for team's lack of progress.
- Coworkers will accept personal responsibility for not meeting expectations.
- The manager requires advanced warning on problems and issues that will affect completion of tasks.
- My manager takes full responsibility for lack of results achieved.
- I continue to work diligently on a problem despite setbacks.
Organization
- I feel everyone works hard to ensure the success of the department.
- I feel I am personally invested in the success of the organization.
- Team members work diligently for the success of the team.
- I feel that coworkers fully embrace the responsibilities that contribute to our departmental success.
- The team leaders take responsibility for the direction of their team.
- My director implements and facilitates controls and processes that maintain the integrity of the organization.
- My manager takes responsibility for the team's actions and results.
Keeps Supervisor Informed
- Coworkers willingly inform the supervisor if progress on the task has been delayed.
- Coworkers will make sure the supervisor is always informed of any important events.
- I always keep the supervisor informed of relevant information.
- I always keep my supervisor informed of recent events.
- I am comfortable letting the supervisor know of any setbacks to the progress on achieving goals.
- I feel everyone keeps supervisor informed of recent activities.
- I am encouraged to consult with the supervisor before engaging in new procedures that have some risk.
- I generally inform the supervisor of progress without having to be asked about it.
Integrity and Honesty
- I feel that my coworkers, if presented with a tough dilemma, would choose integrity over convenience.
- I feel my coworkers uphold ethical standards even when no one is watching.
- My manager keeps their word and does what they say they will do.
- My manager is someone you can trust.
- People I work with take responsibility for their actions and admit mistakes openly.
- I can be counted on to do what I say I will do.
- People in my department maintain honesty and transparency in all communications.
- My coworkers handle sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
Expectations
- My coworkers will consistently follow through on commitments and promises.
- My manager follows through on commitments made.
- Supervisors will hold employees accountable for completing the project successfully.
- Colleagues can be counted on to do their role well.
- My manager expects employees to take full responsibility for unmet expectations and make corrective actions immediately.
- I consistently strive to meet high standards of excellence.
- I work to achieve established goals.
- The manager sets clear expectations for performance.
- Our department honors the commitments and promises made to customers/clients.
- My manager ensures that employee objectives are aligned with the organization's objectives.
On Time
- I do not make excuses for being late for work.
- My coworkers regularly complete tasks on time.
- Coworkers will consistently strive to complete work on time or ahead of schedule.
- I always start work on time.
- I always show up for work on time.
- I am able to complete required tasks on time and delivered expected results.
- I accept personal responsibility for the timeliness of work.
- Colleagues are prepared and on time for meetings and scheduled events.
- My coworkers do not make excuses for missed deadlines.
- Employees in our department holds themselves and others accountable for meeting the deadlines.
Accountable to Others
- My manager ensures that employees are compensated fairly and in accordance with established policies.
- The manager is responsible for ensuring that employees are treated fairly.
- Senior leadership exhibits good governance in their role as an executive.
- Supervisors in our department are responsible for the fair and just implementation of the contract with the union.
- I feel our department welcomes the responsibility for meeting the broad range of needs of stakeholders and clients.
- I consistently exhibit professionalism in interactions with other employees.
Self-Assessment Items
Accountability
- You take responsibility for seeing the project through to completion.
- You willingly accept the obligation to complete the task.
- You accept accountability for your work.
- You accept accountability for your actions and results.
- You establish who is responsible for various aspects of the project.
- You are someone who is there when others are in need.
- You accept accountability for your actions.
Consequences
- I accept the consequences for my actions.
- You hold employees accountable for meeting performance benchmarks.
- You hold employees responsible if expectations are not met.
- I accept personal responsibility for my actions.
- I am aware of the consequences for failure to complete the project.
- I demonstrate a commitment to taking responsibility for actions.
- You expect employees to accept the consequences of their actions.
- I willingly accept the consequences for my actions.
- I am willing to answer for my own actions and performance.
Process and Procedure
- You develop goals and establish objective measures of success.
- I project an image of transparency and trustworthiness in the administration of fair and equitable policies.
- I require employees to submit monthly reports of the work they performed.
- I exhibit a sense of ownership of the process.
- I document performance goals through an individual development plan.
- You create a consistent process for prioritizing work.
- You require employees to submit action plans, timelines or other objectives.
- You require team members to present progress reports or prepare contingency plans.
Accountability in Others
- You define roles, rights, and responsibilities of employees.
- You define roles, rights, and responsibilities of the team.
- You understand the importance of holding employees accountable for their work.
- I expect employees to account for their actions and performance.
- You encourage employees to take on greater responsibilities.
- You encourage colleagues/business partners to take on greater responsibilities.
- You seek commitment from employees prior to assigning tasks.
- You allow employees to set your own performance goals.
- You encourage employees to set challenging but achievable goals.
Outcomes and Results
- I exhibit a sense of ownership of outcomes and results.
- I take full responsibility for results.
- You take responsibility for results.
- You take full responsibility for project outcomes.
- You accept responsibility for outcomes.
- You accept accountability for results.
- You accept accountability for your results.
- You take personal responsibility for results.
In Problem Solving
- You tackle issues head on and finds solutions.
- You accept responsibility for leading efforts to solve critical problems.
- You take charge of addressing and solving problems.
- You hold employees accountable for their participation in solving department problems and issues.
- I will commit to leading the initiatives to solving critical issues.
- I regularly lead the way when helping the team troubleshoot various issues.
- You take ownership of problems to find the best solutions.
Performance
- You act like an owner when they make decisions.
- You hold team accountable to meeting goals.
- I take personal responsibility for the quality of my work.
- I set clear performance measures.
- I review performance to determine areas for improvement.
- You hold employees accountable through regular performance reviews.
- I accept personal responsibility for producing high quality and timely work.
- You justly apply disciplinary measures.
Errors and Setbacks
- You take ownership of mistakes and learn from them.
- You accept personal responsibility for not meeting expectations.
- I take responsibility for errors and actively work to correct them.
- I acknowledge errors and take the steps necessary to rectify them.
- I take full responsibility for lack of results achieved.
- I recognize when a mistake is made and work to correct the issue.
- I take responsibility for errors in the production line.
- You continue to work diligently on a problem despite setbacks.
- You take full responsibility for team's lack of progress.
- You require employees provide you with advanced warning on problems and issues that they know will affect completion of tasks.
Organization
- You fully embrace the responsibilities that contribute to our departmental success.
- You work hard to ensure the success of the department.
- You take responsibility for the team's actions and results.
- You are personally invested in the success of the organization.
- I work diligently for the success of the team.
- You take responsibility for the direction of the team.
- You are aware of problems or issues that may affect the organization.
- You implement and facilitate controls and processes that maintain the integrity of the organization.
- You remain knowledgeable of Company performance.
Keeps Supervisor Informed
- You keep you supervisor informed of recent events.
- You inform supervisor of progress without having to be asked about it.
- You make sure the supervisor is always informed of any important events.
- You let supervisor know of any setbacks to the progress on achieving goals.
- You consult with the supervisor before engaging in new procedures that have some risk.
- I always keep the supervisor informed of relevant information.
- I inform my supervisor if progress on the task is delayed.
- You keep you supervisor informed of recent activities.
Integrity and Honesty
- You are someone who is trustworthy.
- You can be counted on to do what you say you are going to do.
- I maintain honesty and transparency in all communications.
- I uphold ethical standards even when no one is watching.
- I choose integrity over convenience.
- You take responsibility for your actions and admit mistakes openly.
- You handle sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
- You keep your word and do what you say you will do.
Expectations
- I set clear expectations for performance.
- You work to achieve established goals.
- I honor the commitments and promises made to customers/clients.
- You follow through on commitments made.
- I consistently strive to meet high standards of excellence.
- You can be counted on to do your role well.
- You consistently follow through on commitments and promises.
- I ensure that employee objectives are aligned with the organization's objectives.
- I hold employees accountable for completing the project successfully.
- I take full responsibility for unmet expectations and make corrective actions immediately.
On Time
- You show up for work on time.
- You do not make excuses for being late for work.
- I am prepared and on time for meetings and scheduled events.
- You do not make excuses for missed deadlines.
- You accept personal responsibility for the timeliness of work.
- You are able to complete required tasks on time and delivered expected results.
- You consistently strive to complete work on time or ahead of schedule.
- You always start work on time.
- You hold yourself and others accountable for meeting the deadline.
- I regularly complete tasks on time.
Accountable to Others
- You welcome the responsibility for meeting the broad range of needs of stakeholders and clients.
- You consistently exhibit professionalism in interactions with employees.
- You exhibit good governance in your role as an executive.
- I ensure that employees are compensated fairly and in accordance with established policies.
- I provide clear reasons for underperformance.
- You are responsible for the fair and just implementation of the contract with the union.
- I am responsible for ensuring that employees are treated fairly.
Job Interview Questions
Accountability
- Have you had to delegate responsibility for certain parts of a project to your employees? Describe.
- How do you accepts accountability for your work?
- Are you someone who is there when others may need your help? Give examples.
- Give an example of when you took responsibility for seeing the project through to completion.
- Describe how you accepted accountability for your actions.
- Do you accept accountability for these results? Explain.
- How would you encourage other employees to accept accountability for their results?
Consequences
- Every action has its outcomes. Do you believe employees should take responsibility for the results of their actions?
- The success of this project is critical. Are you aware of the consequences for failure to complete this project?
- Give an example of when you had to accept the consequences of your actions.
- How would you demonstrate a commitment to taking responsibility for actions?
- Actions have consequences. Do you expect employees to accept the consequences of their actions?
Process and Procedure
- Do you require team members to present progress reports or prepare contingency plans?
- Describe how you would develop goals and establish objective measures of success?
- Have you documented performance goals through an individual development plan?
- How do you develop goals and establish objective measures of success?
- Do you require employees to submit action plans, timelines or other objectives?
- Have you required team members to present progress reports?
Accountability in Others
- What can be done to encourage employees to take on greater responsibilities?
- How would you encourage employees to set challenging but achievable goals?
- Do you define roles, rights, and responsibilities of your employees?
- Assuming additional responsibilities fosters personal growth. How do you motivate your employees to embrace more duties?
- How do you define roles, rights, and responsibilities of your employees?
- Describe how you would define roles, rights, and responsibilities of the team.
- Taking on more responsibilities helps a person to grow. How do you encourage your employees to take on more responsibilities?
- Describe how you encourage colleagues/business partners to take on greater responsibilities.
- Owning a task helps an employee to feel more empowered. How do you seek commitment from employees prior to assigning tasks?
Outcomes and Results
- How do you take responsibility for results?
- Give an example of how you took personal responsibility for results.
- Explain how you accepted responsibility for outcomes.
- Give an example of how you took personal responsibility for the quality of your work. Explain what happened?
In Problem Solving
- Owning a problem means that you will focus all or most of your efforts to its solution. Give an example of when you took ownership of a problem.
- When have you accepted responsibility for leading efforts to solve critical problems?
- How do you tackle issues head on and finds solutions?
- Can you describe a time when you took charge of resolving significant issues?
- Taking the lead is essential when addressing team challenges. Can you describe a time when you spearheaded efforts to resolve critical issues?
- Someone needs to take charge when solving a problem as a team. Describe an instance in which you were committed to leading the initiatives to solving critical issues.
Performance
- How would you justly apply disciplinary measures?
- Describe how you would set clear performance measures.
- Do you allow employees to set their own performance goals?
- Explain how you would hold team members accountable to meeting goals.
- Describe how you would accept personal responsibility for producing high quality and timely work.
Errors and Setbacks
- Describe a time when you continued to work diligently on a problem despite setbacks.
- What there a time when you had to take full responsibility for lack of results achieved.
- Learning from mistakes is important to avoid repeating them.
Give an example of when you took ownership of mistakes and learned from them.
- Explain how you would take ownership of mistakes and learn from them.
- How do you notify employees that they need to give advanced warning on problems and issues that will affect completion of tasks?
- Describe how you would take responsibility for errors and actively work to correct them.
Organization
- We all share the responsibility of supporting our organization. Do you know of any challenges or issues that might impact us?
- How knowledgeable are you of the Company's performance?
- Every team member plays a crucial role in advancing our mission. Can you share how you are personally committed to our organization's success?
- Are you aware of any problems or issues that affect the organization?
- Effective leadership is crucial for guiding a team. How would you ensure the team stays on the right path?
- How would you implement and facilitate controls and processes to maintain the integrity of the organization?
Keeps Supervisor Informed
- Do you keep your supervisor informed of recent activities?
- Do you inform your supervisor of progress without having to be asked about it?
- How do you keep your supervisor informed of recent events?
Integrity and Honesty
- Give an example of how you keep your word and do what you say you will do.
- Have you ever had to admit that you made a mistake? If so, can you describe the situation?
- Can you be counted on to do what you say you are going to do?
- Upholding ethical standards even when no one is watching is important. Describe a situation in which you were faced with a dilemma and chose to take the more ethical path.