I am a strong believer in accountability because a clear sense of accountability is a good discipline to help us focus on our effectiveness. Most of us in the Lord's work possess an intensity in striving for effectiveness in ministry. Expectations can come from within, from without, and also from above. Sooner or later, in one context or another, every servant of Christ will face this question in some form. We need to think our way through this issue honestly and Biblically.
Some expectations come from within.
Personal expectations for ministry effectiveness are often good. We may drive ourselves because of personal love for the Lord, a desire to see people won to Christ and built up in the faith, and because we wish to see the work of God prosper. There is also the sense of personal accomplishment in a job well done. But sometimes expectations from within may not be as wholesome as they should be. We may expect ourselves to perform faultlessly without realizing that such a motivation in and of itself could stem from a sense of insecurity, pride, fear of failure, or jealousy.