Who's accountable for defining accountability?

As the new year began, the words of the week apparently were accountable and accountability. In his speech on air security, President Obama said:

"I will hold my staff, our agencies and the people in them accountable when they fail to perform their responsibilities at the highest levels.

"...I've directed agency heads to establish internal accountability reviews.

"All of these agencies -- and their leaders -- are responsible for implementing these reforms. And all will be held accountable if they don't.

"As President, I have a solemn responsibility to protect our nation and our people. And when the system fails, it is my responsibility."

Ted Phillips, the Chicago Bears president and CEO, held a press conference to announce the firing of four assistant coaches following the team's third year of missing the playoffs. Phillips explained the chain of accountability as:

"Jerry (Angelo, the Bears general manager)is accountable in the structure of this organization. Everyone's accountable to ownership. I am directly accountable to ownership. Jerry's accountable to me and Lovie's accountable to Jerry.

"...and we know the accountability that we all have."

Apparently, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Angelo, and Mr. Lovie were not accountable for the string of sub-par seasons - the four fired coaches possessed the accountability.

So...what exactly does it mean to be accountable or to have accountability? Merrian-Webster says accountable means "answerable" or "responsible." But I think it means that the person who uses these words is not the person taking the blame or gets fired. These accountability words are warning shots fired across the bow of someone else's ship. If you hear these words from your boss it means you should update your resume or start talking about accountability yourself.

How does an organization measure accountability? It usually has something to do with achieving your goals, making your numbers, fulfilling your duties, etc. What everybody really wants to know is what do I have to do to keep my job? What numbers do I have to hit? In the case of air security, my guess is that number is now zero for 2010 - zero terrorists getting on planes flying in the U.S. In the case of the 2010 Bears, the number is at least 10 wins and a playoff appearance.

If these numbers aren't attained, people who are currently accountable will lose their accountability...maybe.