It's no secret I'm a huge football fan...I coach high school football for Redwood and from September to February, my tv is locked on college and NFL football games. I love everything about the game - the history, the legends that have taken the field, the competitive spirit, the play formations, and everything in between.
The other day I even watched a YouTube video on the making of an official NFL football at the Wilson Factory
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8kZP4dRe3w). The process amazed me. If you are not familiar with the Wilson Factory, believe me, this is no ordinary place - it is absolutely pristine and there is such precision, attention to detail and hands-on work in the assembly line that you'd think Walt Disney was at the helm of the operation.
What this video showed me is the power of accountability - each of the employees at the Wilson Factory knows that without their meticulousness and expertise, the product would not get finished on time or to the NFL standard. Most of the employees have been working at the factory for 30 plus years - day in and day out, doing the exact same thing. They work like clockwork, as a team, diligently executing each task in order to crank out a perfect, Wilson NFL football, every time. They take complete ownership of their piece of the process.
Holding each of these employees accountable for their work gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment because they know they are partially responsible for the success of the overall production. Accountability is an important aspect to any organization - I believe, if done the right way, accountability can garner enhanced teamwork and trust, thorough execution and follow-through, sharper clarity and a tighter focus on results. It should be the strongest thread that runs through the complex fabric of any organization because when you create a sense of accountability, you will inevitably create an environment of people who can and will get game-changing results.
Sincerely,
Matt Seals
