Making a good decision is only half the job. The harder part is execution.
This is where the A in MAGIC comes into focus. Accountability is what helps leaders stay focused on the work that truly matters, even when the pressures of day-to-day operations pull them back into the weeds.
In TEC Canada groups, accountability is not imposed. It is chosen. And that makes all the difference.
From insight to action
A typical TEC session ends with clarity. A member brings forward an issue, works it through with peers, and arrives at a well-considered decision. Before moving on, they close the loop by answering two simple questions:
What action am I committing to?
By when will I complete it?
That moment matters. Saying it out loud creates focus. It turns insight into intent.
The next day, when the member is back in the office, the urgent quickly takes over. Emails pile up. Meetings fill the calendar. It becomes easy to postpone the work that requires deeper thinking, courage, or sustained attention.
Knowing that you have committed to your peers changes that dynamic. The accountability is not about pressure. It is about respect. You do not want to return to the next meeting having avoided the very issue you asked others to help you solve.
Accountability works both ways
Accountability in a TEC group is mutual.
Each member has a responsibility not only to follow through on their own commitments, but also to bring their best thinking, questions, and experience to the table for others. That shared obligation sharpens the conversation and strengthens trust within the group.
Members learn to point out blind spots respectfully. They ask the questions others may be avoiding. They support one another in doing the hard work that leadership requires.
This two-way accountability is what keeps the group strong and relevant month after month.
Making time for what matters most
Many executives know exactly what needs to be done. The problem is not clarity. It is time.
Important issues often sit unresolved because they require focused effort or difficult conversations.
When something has been important enough to bring to a TEC group, work through in detail, and commit to publicly, it becomes much harder to ignore.
That monthly rhythm creates space to step out of the business and work on the business. Over time, that discipline compounds.
A Real-World Example
(The following is a fictional case created for demonstration purposes.)
Susan leads a growing organization with a strong senior team. One member of that team has been underperforming for some time. Susan has tried to coach the individual informally, but the issues persist. She avoids addressing it directly, hoping improvement will come with time.
Susan brings the situation to her TEC group.
Through questions and shared experience, the group helps her see what she already knows but has been reluctant to admit. The issue is not effort or intent. It is fit to role. Continuing as things are is unfair to the team, the organization, and the individual.
By the end of the session, Susan commits to a clear next step. She will have a direct conversation with the team member within the next three weeks to assess whether focused development is realistic or whether a different role or transition is the right outcome.
When Susan returns to work, the urge to delay is strong. Other priorities feel easier. But she remembers the commitment she made and the support behind it.
At the next meeting, she reports back. The conversation was difficult but productive. A clear plan is now in place. The organization is stronger for it.
That is accountability at work.
Why accountability matters
Accountability is not about being watched. It is about being supported.
It helps leaders follow through on the decisions that matter most, especially when execution requires focus, discipline, or courage. It turns good intentions into real progress.
In the next article, we will explore the G in MAGIC and how TEC supports both organizational growth and personal growth as a leader.
Call to Action
As a TEC Chair, I would be delighted to explore your fit with TEC and help you find the peer group that is right for you, whether that is my group or another across the TEC Canada network. Please feel free to reach out.
Learn more about TEC Canada and all the options for peer groups. If you are the head of the organization, a key executive, or an advancing leader, there is an option for you.
