Accountability comes down to one thing: trust.
Why, as your employee would I tell you about a mistake if I knew that I would be reprimanded, suspended, punished , or even fired?
If I could not come to you with the trust that I would have a solution-oriented partner – more focused on resolving the issue than affixing blame, I probably would avoid approaching you until I absolutely had to.
Building and creating trust between you and your team (not to mention your spouse, children, friends, etc.) makes the difference in creating a relationship that produces results and relationships that limp along in mutual frustration and distrust.
So when Something Happens, take a moment. Feel your emotional response, acknowledge it personally, and then mindfully move forward in a trust building direction.