Individually, as we engage in our work, we are constantly generating and creating, while simultaneously assessing what we are doing. It is like a spiral moving upwards. This is natural and healthy as we self-assess. The more confident we are about what we are doing and how to do it the less we assess.

 Yet, in our organizations, as we grow and try to manage for productivity, we have confused what we want, that is, accountability, with what we buy or invest time in, that is, assessment. There is a profound conceptual flaw.

Until we sort this out, we will continue to invest in undermining healthy relationships and actively erode productivity and trust.