Many people hear the term accountability and immediately make it a synonym for punishment or discipline. We often hear the phrase “You will be held accountable for your actions,” and it does not normally follow a good decision made by someone. It has turned the word accountable into a negative term. Some dictionaries even define it that way. However, if we want to encourage autonomous decision making and empower our Airmen, then we must de-link the term accountability from punishment and promote accountability as a desired action. Personal accountability will ultimately lead the individual to ownership of the job or task and that is when incredible happens in our line of work.