All for one and one for all. This is the code that bonds D'Artagnan and his compatriots. But the Musketeers' motto is about more than their honor; it expresses their understanding that the group draws its strength from the success of its individual members. Each is at once accountable to himself and to his fellow Musketeers.
Accountability has acquired a somewhat negative connotation in the past decade. In some circles, the word is now associated with sanctions; in fact, accountability is synonymous with responsibility. This is the meaning we have in mind for this chapter's exploration of individual and group accountability. Just as Dumas's Musketeers held themselves accountable to one another, each member of a productive work group shares a sense of responsibility to the other members.
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