The Oz Principle

Getting Results through Individual and Organizational Accountability

Becky KochAg Communication

Director

The Oz Principle

• Training at National Extension Directors/ Administrators Meeting

• Led by Partners in Leadership

• Resources from Debra Davis, Organization Development and Evaluation Specialist, LSU AgCenter

Wizard of Oz Characters

• Dorothy• Scarecrow• Tin Man• Lion• Wizard

Accountability

• “the obligation to report, explain or justify something”

Ag Communication’s Random House Dictionary

Personal Accountability

• “A personal choice to rise above one’s circumstances and demonstrate the ownership necessary for achieving desired results—to See It, Own It, Solve It and Do It.”

Connors, Smith & Hickman in The Oz Principle

Accountability

Above the Line: See It, Own It, Solve It, Do It

_____________________________________

Below the Line: The Blame Game

_______________________________

Below the Line

• Making excuses is so much easier than accepting responsibility

• Recognize when you’re below the line

Common Stages of the Victim CycleBelow the Line

• Ignore/Deny• It’s Not My Job• Finger Pointing• Confusion/Tell Me What to Do• Cover Your Tail• Wait and See

List Examples

• Things I Can Control • Things I Cannot Control

4 Steps to Accountability

See It – Acknowledge the ProblemOwn It – Take Responsibility for ItSolve It – Determine What I Can DoDo It – Take Action

See It – Acknowledge the Problem

• Get the perspective of others• Ask for and offer feedback• Be realistic• Be honest with yourself; admit mistakes• Consider all the facts_______________________________________

Own It – Take Responsibility for It

• Be personally invested• Ask how I contributed• Answer for personal commitments• Act on feedback• Align my work with the results the

organization is trying to achieve_______________________________________

Solve It – Determine What I Can Do

• Ask myself, “What else can I do?”• Redefine boundaries• Test assumptions• Recognize that some things are out of my

control_______________________________________

Do It – Take Action

• Clarify responsibilities• Report proactively• Relentlessly follow up• Do what I say I’ll do• Measure progress_______________________________________

Personal Accountability Assessment

Joint Accountability

• Organizational results come from collective, not individual, activity

• When everyone is accountable for achieving organizational results, and not just doing their job, the right things tend to happen

Joint Accountability

• Training everyone at every level• Coaching accountability• Asking Above the Line questions• Rewarding accountability• Holding people accountable

Holding People AccountableThe Oz Principle Way

1. Define the result2. Determine time to report on progress3. Deliver praise or coaching

The Oz Principle

• People hold inside themselves the power to rise above their circumstances and get the results they want