The ancient folklore goes like this: An architect is required to stand under the arch as the keystone is put in place and the wood supports are removed. If the arch holds, the architect is validated but if it fails, he pays the ultimate price for his failure.
The anecdote was made popular in Ken Follett’s book, The Pillars of the Earth, but there is no evidence that any ancient architect actually had to endure such a test. Even though its not historical fact, there is a lesson we can learn from the story.
If your life was on the line, I imagine you would espire to do your best work. This is what accountability does – it challenges us to be the best we can be. The good news today is that holding yourself accountable isn’t likely to get you killed, which means you can learn from your mistakes.
Often we found ourselves acting as mercenaries; hired hands working on someone else’s projects. Mercenaries have no accountability for the outcome. They do what they are paid to do even if it doesn’t ultimately produce the desired results. This happens to all of us in our careers from time to time, but its never going to produce the best version of you.
I’ve seen countless tiktok and youtube shorts where some would suggest you should never do more than you are being paid for. This is a mercenary mindset, but even if your desire is to be the best mercenary, its not likely to get you there. Comments like “I do mediocre work because they pay me mediocre pay” only serves to create a mediocre you.
But when you not only hold yourself accountable for your work, but demand others hold you accountable as well, you will create better long term results.
How can you position yourself at work to ‘stand under the arch’?
- Ensure a well defined outcomes
- Create a clear due dates
- Set outcome expectations with management
- Report on the results
- Do a retrospective exercise in order to learn what you did right and what you did wrong
Be the best version of you, always. Accountability helps you to accomplish this goal.