Accountability: The Sure Key To A Better Community

By Yvonne Sam
Contributing Columnist

Recent community happenings and a hurried conversation with a community representative forced me to deviate from my adult norm and inquire as to what had been consuming her thoughts, lately.

She was quiet for a while, as if deciding which of her thoughts should be given priority. Then, in a clear and well-articulated voice, she responded that a lot of her thoughts have been centered on the importance of us holding one another accountable.

Doing so, she ruefully opined, would demonstrate the type of community we truly want to become.

I became instantly excited as, for several weeks, the same thoughts had dominated my mind. While accountability was the key word she used, leadership was the word that was fixed in my mind.

Both words, accountability and leadership, have their own distinct definitions, but the manner in which I painstakingly referenced them, they could be interchangeable. Leaders should be accountable, and individuals, who demonstrate accountability, are, in a sense, leaders.

As our conversation progressed, it became more blatantly apparent that there are specific areas, where people can individually demonstrate leadership and accountability, in an effort to make our communities better places to live and work — changes that we are currently in dire need of.

As professionals in our work environments, all of us can be more accountable by owning up to our mistakes, working together to correct them, treating one another fairly and with the utmost respect, and being the person others can depend on to make the best decisions for them, and the place of work in general.

Leadership is not always popular — sometimes tough decisions must be made. Sometimes, there are things that must be executed in a certain manner that may not make you the most liked. Sometimes leadership simply means owning up to, and taking responsibility for, things that you have done wrong.

Leadership and proper accountability are not blaming others for things that ultimately are your responsibility. Leadership is stepping up when things are uncomfortable.

Being accountable in our relationships is also extremely important. Assuming responsibility, treating one another respectfully, and leading in positive ways will make relationships stronger.

The name Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. springs to mind, when effective leadership and accountability are spoken of. I often say Dr. King could have very easily gotten a regular job, out of the spotlight, that provided financial and emotional security for him and his family.

He could have opted for the path of least resistance, but he didn’t. He chose to step up, because he realized the needs of the community were more significant than his individual wants and needs.

Dr. King’s leadership and accountability were not pleasing to some people, and for such, he ultimately paid the price, with his life.

Leadership can often be uncomfortable, and that is the underlying reason why people, who have the heart, tenacity, skills and accountability for it, are the most effective.

Effective parenting takes true leadership and accountability. Denial is not, and will never, be an option. Swallow this truth pill and ensure that it stays down, and not stuck under your tongue.

Parents can neither be in denial, nor can they ignore the reality of a situation. Parents, who live in denial, usually hear the truth at their child’s court trial.

For instance, as a parent, if your son comes home with $500 worth of shoes and you are fully aware that he does not have a job or money to purchase those shoes, you need to probe to determine how he was able to obtain the shoes.

On a final note, parenting is not limited to the actual parents of a child. Parenting responsibilities can, and should, be embraced by other family members, individuals in the community and even teachers and school administrators. Only then will we see change, on a larger scale.

On a cautionary note however, parents you may need to look carefully at your behavior, and ensure that from you the right message is being sent if you want others to also parent.

Being accountable in our relationships is also extremely important. Assuming responsibility, treating one another respectfully, and leading in positive ways will make relationships stronger.

Of important note is the fact that these strategies are not primarily, and exclusively, reserved just for romantic relationships, but also platonic relationships, and even our relationships with family members.

When I think about the type of community that I desire, my vision is that of one that is more kind, respectful and, above all, continuously productive.

If we all strive to be more accountable leaders, we will only enhance the greatness that is within each of us. That is when the fruits of our labor will be most evident,

Aleuta — the struggle continues.

Yvonne Sam, a retired Head Nurse and Secondary School Teacher, is the Chair of the Rights and Freedom Committee at the Black Community Resource Centre. A regular columnist for over two decades with the Montreal Community Contact, her insightful and incursive articles on topics ranging from politics, human rights and immigration, to education and parenting have also appeared in the Huffington Post, Montreal Gazette, XPressbogg and Guyanese OnLine. She is also the recipient of the Governor General of Canada Caring Canadian Citizen Award.