These two stories are about taking responsibility and fulfilling them. Both play out often in organizations and teams — in fact, anywhere where there is culture that lacks accountability. Read them and see if you see a similar situation in your organization or team…

WHOSE JOB IS IT?

There was an important job to be done, and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry because it was Everybody’s job.

Everybody thought that Anybody could do it.

But Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

WHO WANTS CHANGE?

Once there were four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, Nobody who wanted change.

Everybody said "I want change".

Somebody said "If only Anybody would start to change, I will join."

But Nobody said "I will change."

Finally Everybody stayed the same, blaming Somebody for waiting for Anybody to start changing.

And so… Nobody changed.

Tasks are accomplished when people take ownership and champions its completion. To avoid having yourself or your team become Everybody, Somebody, Anybody or Nobody, commit to taking responsibility and getting things done.