Clarity, commitment, capability, consequences and check-in. Clarity: what, by when, and how we will know it is done. Commitment: a yes that was said out loud or in writing. Capability: the skills and hours to do it. Consequences: what happens either way, known in advance. Check-in: a review of the work, not of the person. Lists differ by author, but nearly all start with clarity.
The five, one by one
Clarity. Most "accountability problems" are clarity problems. The person did what they understood. Nobody wrote down what was meant.
Commitment. Silence is not a yes. Ask for the words: "I'll have the draft to you Thursday." A commitment you can quote is one you can hold.
Capability. You cannot hold someone to a result they do not have the skill or the hours for. Check both before you accept the commitment.
Consequences. Not threats. Known outcomes. Work that meets the brief gets accepted and credited. Work that does not gets a clear note and a second round. Everyone knows this before starting.
Check-in. At the agreed time, look at the work against the agreement. Not at the person's effort or attitude. At the work.
Why the order matters
Teams usually start at consequences, because that is where the frustration is. But consequences without clarity are unfair, and everyone knows it. Build from the first C and the fifth takes care of itself.
Where M-Tracker fits
M-Tracker builds the first and fifth C into every task. The brief is the clarity: result, audience, must-haves, due date. When the work is sent, M-Tracker checks it against the brief and writes a plain review the person sees first. That is the check-in, on the work and not the person, with a record of dates. Commitment and consequences become easy to state because the agreement is written down.
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Questions people ask
Are the five C's an official framework?
No. Different authors use different C's. Communication, culture and courage show up in some lists.
Which C do teams most often skip?
Capability. People say yes to things they do not have hours for, and then look unaccountable.
How is this different from the four pillars?
Same ideas, grouped differently. Pick one list and use it consistently.
Work you can trust, without redoing it.
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