“Carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Gal 6:2

The fourth dysfunction of a team is avoidance of responsibility. In his book “The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business”, Patrick Lencioni said, “Conflict is about issues and ideas, while accountability is about performance and behavior.” The performance and behavior of the team members are determined by the levels of their commitment to serve one another to achieve the common goal.

For a team to achieve its goal, everyone must function effectively according to his or her role and accountable to one another. It is dangerous for any organization to rely on just very gifted individual because the supply is always scarce and unreliable. It is the test of an organization to make ordinary members into extraordinary members by constantly discover and develop their individual strength. The role of the leaders is to position their team members according to their callings. The purpose of an organization is to enable common men to achieve great and uncommon things for God.

Accountability is about love and care for the welfare of the team. Everyone especially leaders need to be accountable to each other in pursuit of excellence. In our organization we encourage and implement 360 degrees review system where by leaders can hear honest feedback from the people they are leading. Many organization failures were due to “hard-headed” leaders who acted arrogantly and no one could speak to his life when he is on the wrong path. Carrying each other’s burden means if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. (Gal 6:1)

Let’s pray.

Lord, we acknowledge no one is an island and teamwork mentality is a test of our maturity. Please help me to be accountable to my team. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Before we go, take a look at the questionnaire below:

1. Based on your observations, what negative impacts can arise when team members avoid taking responsibility? Drawing on your experience, what strategies or methods might help prevent or address this issue?

2. Has your team ever implemented a 360 degrees review system ? In your view, how does this type of evaluation contribute to improving overall team performance?

3. Galatians speaks of “carrying each other’s burdens.” How do you see this concept relating to accountability? Furthermore, how do you view holding one another accountable in a manner that is both gentle and compassionate within a team setting?