Which were the best companies, organizations or individuals at holding themselves accountable in 2015? The worst?

We’ll find out soon. The second annual “Best and Worst in Accountability” survey is just days away.

I’ve got my favorites for the “Best” list and the “Worst” list, but before I distribute the survey, I want to hear from you. Who do you think should be on this year’s list?

If I include your nomination for one of five leaders that will make the “Best” list or one of five leaders who will make the “Worst” list, I’ll send you a complimentary copy of my book Accountability, named by Soundview as one of the best business books of the year.

Simple Litmus Test

The litmus test for accountability is simple: Either we can count on someone who gives us their word or we cannot.

What leader have you most admired in 2015 for doing the right thing even when doing so might have bucked the trend of public popularity or contributed to short-term revenue loss?

In the 2014 survey, CVS Caremark CEO Larry Merlo was voted “most accountable” for his decision to stop selling tobacco products in CVS Caremark stores because of “the inconsistency of selling tobacco in a place where healthcare is delivered.” At the time, Merlo noted that annual tobacco sales of $2 billion were at stake for the brand.

What leader folded like a cheap suit in 2015 when it mattered? This leader may have looked the other way, gone back on their word, or somehow bungled their moment of truth in 2015.

In the 2014 survey, voters selected former U.S. government secretary Eric Shinseki the “least accountable” person of 2014 for his shoddy management of the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2014, the VA increased the average wait time to 114 days, and its botched paperwork, outmoded systems and ineffective bureaucracy resulted in confirmed deaths of at least 40 veterans.

Rules and Deadline for Nominations for Best and Worst in Accountability

If you would like to nominate a leader for either the “Best” list or the “Worst” list, please email me at greg.bustin@bustin.com. Tell me in a few words, what this leader has done or not done to deserve to make the list.

1. Now, we need to get a few rules out of the way: The deadline for nominations for “Best and Worst in Accountability” to be accepted is Friday, December 4, at 5 p.m. CST. Any nominations received after the deadline will not be accepted.
2. All nomination must be made on-line. No mail in nominations will be accepted. No oral entries or voicemails, text message or email entries will be accepted.
3. Nominations submitted shall constitute the intellectual property of Bustin & Co. and all participates hereby release their rights and interest in such votes and tally, if any. The selection of nominations by Bustin & Co. shall be final.
4. Winners shall be notified by email. Books shall be mailed by U.S. Mail, postage prepaid by Bustin & Co. by January 15, 2016.
5. No Purchase Necessary to enter the survey and to be considered in the subsequent book give-away.
6. Prize value is less than US$45.00.
7. If the same candidate is nominated by multiple people, a winner will be selected at random.
8. You must be 21 years of age or older to enter. Anyone under the age of 21 is excluded.
9. By entering this survey and subsequent book give-away, all entrants consent to the subsequent use of the limited personal information that is disclosed by entering the survey by Bustin & Co. Such use by Bustin & Co. is limited to the marketing purposes of Bustin & Co. Bustin & Co. does not resell or release to any other person or entity any of the information it obtains. Bustin & Co. keeps all such information confidential.
10. Only one nomination per person will be considered.
11. Odds of winning will depend on the number of nominations, as no more than 10 books will be given away.
12. The offer contained in or reflected by the survey and the subsequent book give-away is void where prohibited.
13. Bustin & Co. reserves the right to cancel, suspend or terminate the survey and subsequent book-give-away if technical difficulties arise that make the survey and subsequent book-give-away difficult or impossible to complete, regardless of whether such difficulty or impossibility is the result of a virus, hacking, interruptions in service or not.
14. Void where prohibited.

Santa makes his list every year of who’s naughty and nice.

Now you can help me make mine. Who’s accountable? And who’s not?