MIKE EVANS is the Executive Vice President of QuestMark. He has served in senior leadership and consulting roles with Kotter International, FranklinCovey, and Tom Peters Company. He has developed a unique perspective from working alongside a star studded list of world-renowned thought leaders, including Dr. John Kotter, Dr. Stephen Covey, Tom Peters, Jim Kouzes, Hyrum Smith, Steve Farber and Chris McChesney. He consults with senior teams, delivers keynote speeches, facilitates custom workshops and provides coaching and consulting on a variety of subject areas, including Personal and Organizational Accountability, Change Leadership, Culture Shaping, Flawless Execution and Exemplary Leadership.

www.questmarkcompany.com; www.achievewithaccountability.com

ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE CATALYST THAT IGNITES: Accelerated Change, Robust Employee Engagement, Intensified Ownership, Relentless Perseverance, Impeccable Alignment, and propels individuals, teams and organizations to desired results.
Accountability crumbles silos, boosts teamwork and collaboration, strengthens camaraderie, creativity, resiliency, agility, trust, and communication
Achieve with Accountability presents a recipe for awakening the whatever it takes attitude to achieve what matters most to individuals, teams and organizations. Discover how to transform accountability into a positive, engaging and forward looking experience that will secure your position in the new world of work. Learn how to kick-start a revolution that will blast your team or organization to new heights of success. We are in a brawl with no rules, where the fast, flexible and agile will eat and spit out the slow, over-thinking and complacent. When you relinquish accountability you place your future in the hands of other people or events. It's only by taking accountability and ownership for our circumstances that we can achieve what matters most. Embrace the accountability fundamentals that have helped individuals, teams and organizations for years to achieve and exceed what matters most.
With the world coming at us fast and furious every day, it's easy to feel like you've lost control of your own life, your team or your organization. By choosing to take and lead accountability you reclaim control and are able to direct your own destiny.
* Develop the agility, flexibility and resiliency to adapt and thrive during constant change
* Foster a can-do, resolute, solutions focus in the face of difficult challenges, obstacles and barriers
* Eradicate the blame-game and vanquish excuse-making that stifles peak performance
* Shed feelings of disarray, discomfort, apathy, entitlement, indifference and despair
* Take control over your circumstances and achieve what matters most
* Unleash voluntary contributions of discretionary performance that is often left untapped in individuals, teams and organizations
* Establish unshakable trust and credibility
Accountability is a current that feeds into the slipstream of success. Your performance, your decisions, and your results are all your responsibility; when you operate from that premise, magic happens. Achieve with Accountability shows you how to nourish that can-do mindset, so you can begin to achieve what matters most.

The Author xi
Resources, Solutions, and Workshops xiii
Preface: Taking Accountability xv
Chapter 1 Taking Accountability 1
Positively the Best Decision 1
Take Accountability or Blame? The Stakes Are High 5
The Magic of Taking Accountability 6
The Rewards of Taking Accountability 10
Accountability Accelerator 11
Shine the Spotlight on the One and Only 15
An Unexpected and Illuminating Discovery 19
Do They Know the Rules of the Game? 21
Chapter 2 Choices 35
Decisions Determine Destiny 35
Stay the Course--Avoid Drowning "Below the Water" 39
Beware of the Bell 43
Leading Accountability--It Is a Choice, and Everyone's Job 46
Where Do They Learn Those Things? 49
Words Are Cheap--The Actions We Choose Are What Matters 52
The Enemies: Justifications, Explanations, Reasons, Rationalizations, Vindications, and Excuses 54
Why Did Randy Cross the Road? 56
Chapter 3 Accountability--What Is It? 67
Once Defined, It Flows 67
Are You Fully Recognizing Your Realities? 74
The Eyes Have It 76
Have You Accepted Ownership for Your Realities? 78
Yoda--The Accountability Coach 81
Lessons from Hyrum 83
Solutions Abound 86
The Obvious Next Step 90
Chapter 4 Accountability Transcends 97
Powerful Shift in Perception 97
Cement the Focus 100
The Magical Mindset Shift 103
Lessons from the Marauders 106
Accountability Trumps Responsibility 109
To LAG or to LEAD 111
Chapter 5 The Preeminent Organization 117
Accountability Is the Catalyst 117
Shaping an Accountable Culture 120
Ignite Desired Accountable Behaviors 122
The Power of Genuine Appreciation 127
Culture: How We Do Things Around Here 129
Forging an Accountable Culture: Little Things Matter--A Lot! 131
Are the Experiences in Your Culture Nurturing Accountability? 133
The Relationship Triad: Experiences, Beliefs and Actions 135
You Alone Are Accountable for How You Are Perceived 137
Sustaining an Accountable Culture: Tune-Ups Required 139
Accountability Tip: Do Not Shoulder Their Accountabilities 142
Do Not Dwell on Why: Keep Moving Forward 144
Accountability in Times of Change: Overcome Fear and Denial 146
The Pinnacle: The Accountable Organization 150
Live and Lead Accountably 161
Index 163