CHAPTER 10 - PROTOCOL 5

Accountability Loop

TIME30-45 minutes monthly

OWNERLeader with accountability partner or team

ARTIFACTMonthly accountability record + next decision

SUCCESS CRITERIA

The loop returns to the intended outcome and evidence.
Progress, variation, friction, and unintended effects are discussed honestly.
Feedback tests assumptions without removing leader agency.
The conversation ends with one next decision, owner, evidence, and return date.

IMPLEMENTATION STEPS

Reconnect to intent

Restate the pressure point, outcome, lever, and reason the work matters.

Study returned evidence

Examine actions, implementation, experience, impact, variation, and unexpected results.

Interrogate the explanation

Test assumptions, competing causes, alignment, burden, and whether the chosen lever still fits.

Decide and return again

Continue, adapt, narrow, transfer, scale, or stop and define the next evidence cycle.

WORKING ORGANIZER

Run the protocol.

Your responses save on this device. Use Print / Save PDF when you are ready to keep or share the artifact.

01Reconnect to intentRestate the pressure point, outcome, lever, and reason the work matters.What were you trying to change, and in service of what?02Study returned evidenceExamine actions, implementation, experience, impact, variation, and unexpected results.What happened, what did not, and what does the evidence suggest?03Interrogate the explanationTest assumptions, competing causes, alignment, burden, and whether the chosen lever still fits.What might we be misunderstanding or normalizing?04Decide and return againContinue, adapt, narrow, transfer, scale, or stop and define the next evidence cycle.What is the most defensible next move, and when will you return?

Evidence to bring backReturn date

Your protocol can be complete here. Save or share the artifact and use it for the need in front of you.

REFLECTION PROMPTS

Are we holding each other accountable for activity or learning?
What evidence challenges the preferred story?
Does the next move remain aligned with the pressure point?

EQUITY GUARDRAILS

Accountability conversations must protect psychological safety and appropriate confidentiality.
Do not individualize system-created barriers.
The leader retains agency; partners provide challenge, evidence, and support rather than control.