April 29, 2025

Accountable grace

A phrase I coined has helped me think differently about what I need and how I want to show up for others.

I froze when he asked, “What can I do for you right now?”

My mind raced. I didn’t want pity. I didn’t want to be let off the hook.

What I wanted—what I needed—was something I’d never put into words before:

Accountable grace.

The space to be human without excuses. The challenge to grow without shame.

Since naming it, I’ve seen this principle show up in my team, in friendships, and in my own inner work. It’s shifted how I lead and how I ask others to show up for me.

I wrote about it here—what it is, why it matters, and how it changes things when we get it right:

Accountable Grace | Ben Norris

“What could I do for you right now?” I froze. My mind spun, searching. Then I found a need I didn’t know I had: “Offer me accountable grace.”

I’d love to hear your take. When have you experienced accountable grace?

-Ben