--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Accountability is a two way street. We…" description: "\"Accountability is a two way street. We can't just make it easier for us to fire people; we must make it easier for us to hire people. It takes VA an av..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/david-shulkin-32605_accountability_accountability-is-a-two-way-street-we-ca_1120994.jpg" --- # Accountability is a two way street. We can't just make it… ![“Accountability is a two way street. We can't just make it easier for us to fire people; we must make it easier for us to hire people. It takes VA an average of 240 days to complete the hiring process for executives joining VA from outside government. We are losing talented people because it simply…” quote by David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/david-shulkin-32605_accountability_accountability-is-a-two-way-street-we-ca_1120994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/david-shulkin-32605_accountability_accountability-is-a-two-way-street-we-ca_1120994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/david-shulkin-32605_accountability_accountability-is-a-two-way-street-we-ca_1120994.jpg) > “Accountability is a two way street. We can't just make it easier for us to fire people; we must make it easier for us to hire people. It takes VA an average of 240 days to complete the hiring process for executives joining VA from outside government. We are losing talented people because it simply takes too long.” [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective hiring requires balancing accountability for both hiring and firing, and streamlining processes to retain talent. **In simple terms:** Hire and fire fairly, speed up hiring. Key Takeaway Simplify hiring to keep talent. Themes accountability talent management bureaucracy Mood frustrated determined Type policy organizational When to use this quote - executive recruitment - government staffing - talent retention - policy reform Key Concepts human resources process optimization organizational efficiency Questions to Reflect On - How can agencies reduce hiring delays? - What safeguards ensure fair firing? A Different Perspective Complex regulations may hinder rapid hiring despite intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street/) [Talented people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talented-people/) [Two way street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-way-street/) [Veterans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veterans/) ## Related quotes > [If high-tech companies are serious about doing the right thing, they can join together and lobby for more transparency and accountability in the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-high-tech-companies-are-serious-about-doing-the-right-thing-they/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [You need to have a collaborative hiring process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/you-need-to-have-a-collaborative-hiring-process/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [We help ensure that Zoom is made up of caring people starting with the hiring process. At that point, we evaluate candidates on whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-yuan/we-help-ensure-that-zoom-is-made-up-of-caring-people-starting-with/) [Eric Yuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-yuan/) > [If there is one thing that offers challenges to small companies as they start to grow and expand, it is the hiring process... every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerber/if-there-is-one-thing-that-offers-challenges-to-small-companies-as/) [Michael Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerber/) > [Generally the reason they fail in the job is, you made some mistake in the hiring process in that you didn't match... them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/generally-the-reason-they-fail-in-the-job-is-you-made-some-mistake-in/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“You need to make sure that each one of those steps is done more systematically and purposefully. For example, you should think through what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/you-need-to-make-sure-that-each-one-of-those-steps-is-done-more/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [When it comes to personnel issues, I act professionally and respectful of former employees. I just assume that's a two-way street. It's disappointing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/when-it-comes-to-personnel-issues-i-act-professionally-and-respectful/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [Music is a communication. It's a two-way street. You need people to play to in order to make that connection complete. That's the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/music-is-a-communication-it-s-a-two-way-street-you-need-people-to/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [A relationship is a two way street. It's never all your fault or all the other persons. You go into the relationship together and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-relationship-is-a-two-way-street-it-s-never-all-your-fault-or-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hard work is a two way street. You get back exactly what you put in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hard-work-is-a-two-way-street-you-get-back-exactly-what-you-put-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Jordan, Attached, please find a copy of the schedule for our trip. Best Courtney." I was really proud of it. The email i mean.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-barnholdt/jordan-attached-please-find-a-copy-of-the-schedule-for-our-trip-best/) [Lauren Barnholdt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-barnholdt/) > [Today in coaching, it's a two-way street. They can fire you whenever they want. Bottom line: It's all about what you can do to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-vitale/today-in-coaching-it-s-a-two-way-street-they-can-fire-you-whenever/) [Dick Vitale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-vitale/) > [Why keep making the effort when no one else even tries , some people need to learn that communication is a two way street !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/why-keep-making-the-effort-when-no-one-else-even-tries-some-people/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [My deal is to understand: you trust me, I trust you. It's a two-way street. Developing that happens over time. It's hard. I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mcelwain/my-deal-is-to-understand-you-trust-me-i-trust-you-it-s-a-two-way/) [Jim McElwain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mcelwain/) > [Respect is intended to operate on a two-way street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/respect-is-intended-to-operate-on-a-two-way-street/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) ## More by David Shulkin > [If there is evidence that an employee has broken the law, caused harm to veterans, or have violated the public trust, they should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/if-there-is-evidence-that-an-employee-has-broken-the-law-caused-harm/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) > [We are a system where I can tell you that nobody is doing more for behavioral health care in this country than the VA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/we-are-a-system-where-i-can-tell-you-that-nobody-is-doing-more-for/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) > [It was clear that VA was in need of reform, and when the president asked for help, I could not say no. First, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/it-was-clear-that-va-was-in-need-of-reform-and-when-the-president/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) > [There will be far greater accountability, dramatically improved access, responsiveness, and expanded care options, but the Department of Veterans Affairs will not be privatized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/there-will-be-far-greater-accountability-dramatically-improved-access/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) > [I don't believe that the problems in the VA are necessarily about money. When I look back over the problems of the VA over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/i-don-t-believe-that-the-problems-in-the-va-are-necessarily-about/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) > [The first responsibility that we have to our veterans is to make sure those that need urgent care are getting care on time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/the-first-responsibility-that-we-have-to-our-veterans-is-to-make-sure/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) > [I do think that VA, as the largest employer of nurses and the largest health system in the country, often does become a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/i-do-think-that-va-as-the-largest-employer-of-nurses-and-the-largest/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) > [Part of what any good health-care professional does, including an advanced-practice nurse, is know when it is time to seek help from more experienced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/part-of-what-any-good-health-care-professional-does-including-an/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) > [VA is a unique national resource that is worth saving, and I am committed to doing just that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/va-is-a-unique-national-resource-that-is-worth-saving-and-i-am/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) > [We have about 360,000 employees in the VA health care system. It's the largest health care system in the country. And the negative attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/we-have-about-360-000-employees-in-the-va-health-care-system-it-s-the/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) > [A veteran deserves the very best health care anywhere. That means sometimes, they should go out into the private sector if something's being done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/a-veteran-deserves-the-very-best-health-care-anywhere-that-means/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) > [What we know about American medicine is that our supply of health-care professionals is not equally distributed. In rural areas, we have severe shortages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/what-we-know-about-american-medicine-is-that-our-supply-of-health/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) > [My career goal is to work as a liaison between organized medicine, government, and third-party payers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/my-career-goal-is-to-work-as-a-liaison-between-organized-medicine/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) > [I've always approached my job first as a physician. I'm here to help and take care of patients. I'm an administrator second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shulkin/i-ve-always-approached-my-job-first-as-a-physician-i-m-here-to-help/) [David Shulkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) [Explore all 15 David Shulkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shulkin/) ## More Accountability quotes > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [Democracy is not being well served as we're accustomed to. There is less information, there's less investigation, there's less analysis, there's less accountability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-greenspon/democracy-is-not-being-well-served-as-we-re-accustomed-to-there-is/) Edward Greenspon > [I come from a world where accountability and accomplishments matter, and where titles and rhetoric take a back seat to results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-come-from-a-world-where-accountability-and-accomplishments-matter/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-particular-principles-of-religion-are-a-subject-of-accountability/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/) Philip Alston > [Responsible Development shares many practices with XP but the roots are different. Responsible Development's values are honesty, transparency, accountability and responsibility. These lead me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/responsible-development-shares-many-practices-with-xp-but-the-roots/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) > [“Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge… is empathy, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bullard/opinion-is-really-the-lowest-form-of-human-knowledge-it-requires-no/) Bill Bullard > [The American people deserve accountability over wasteful spending, and we accomplish that by prioritizing taxpayer dollars in a responsive and responsible manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/the-american-people-deserve-accountability-over-wasteful-spending-and/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [“There are many professions that require individuals, on an ongoing basis, to pass drug tests, physicals and psychological evaluations in order to keep their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hopkins/there-are-many-professions-that-require-individuals-on-an-ongoing/) [Gary Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hopkins/) > [“Expecting accountability from the UN system was akin to expecting a blind dog to catch a flying Frisbee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-soussan/expecting-accountability-from-the-un-system-was-akin-to-expecting-a/) Michael Soussan [Browse all 860 Accountability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Accountability is a two way street. 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