Blog Layout
Accountability is Essential for Success
Cathie Leimbach • September 27, 2022
The success of a group relies on high performance from every individual. An important leadership responsibility is positioning the organization and its people for success by helping everyone do their job well. This requires holding people accountable to meeting expectations by communicating clearly and supporting them to be effective.
3 Benefits of Holding Others Accountable
- Greater Clarity of Purpose – When people are clear about the purpose of their work and buy-in to the value the organization provides to society, they have more passion for their job.
- Improved Performance – When people are clear about what is expected of them and know that their work is important enough to be noticed by their supervisor and peers, they are more motivated to do their best.
- Better Team Dynamics – When there is mutual accountability with the leaders fulfilling their responsibilities and all team members working to fulfill theirs, there is a sense of belonging that inspires collaboration and high achievement.
5 Tips for Holding Others Accountable
- Hold Yourself Accountable – Be a visible role model. Follow company rules. Communicate your priorities and achievements to your staff. Keep your promises to them.
- Make Expectations Clear – What do you want each person to achieve at work? What are the standards required for a healthy workplace culture?
- Set Manageable Goals – Be specific about the quantity and quality of results your staff members are expected to achieve each day or week. Provide them with the training and the tools they need to do their work well.
- Offer Constructive Feedback – When a staff member is struggling or underperforming help them to improve. Be curious about what is hindering good performance and provide them support to overcome their challenges. Equip them for success. If they are a right-fit employee for your company but not for their current role, find them a right-fit position.
- Implement Consequences When Necessary – If despite sincere and relevant training and support have been provided to an individual and they are still underperforming, negative consequences will be necessary. Dismissing a wrong-fit employee after offering help to overcome their performance gaps sends the message to others that you really do notice the difference between poor and good performers.
Clear and supportive accountability yields high morale and productivity for personal and organizational success.
Today's workplaces are changing, and managers play a key role in increasing workplace morale and productivity. Research shows that managers impact 70% of what affects how engaged and effective employees are. Surveys show many employees are dissatisfied. They say that expectations are unclear, they don’t feel respected by management, they don’t get enough training, and they don't see how their work matters. With the increasing number of seniors and fewer people in the workforce, increased productivity is essential. Strong leadership is more important than ever. Managers need to develop skills to help their teams succeed. This includes: • Setting clear goals, • Showing appreciation, • Providing good training, and • Helping employees see the purpose of their work. The innovative Conversational Management program helps managers build these leadership skills. It focuses on the leadership practices which boost engagement and productivity. Managers can participate in a virtual Test Drive to see how these strategies can improve teamwork and performance. If you want better results and productivity, REGISTER HERE to join a Test Drive and learn about this highly effective leadership approach!
Rory Vaden, a well-known author and speaker, highlights a common challenge many face: avoiding hard tasks or jobs we don’t enjoy. This avoidance can be one of the biggest barriers to achieving our goals. Instead of tackling these important tasks, we often find ourselves busy with less significant activities, distracting ourselves without even realizing it. Many people fall into the trap of responding to urgent tasks and interruptions, which can lead us away from what truly matters. For example, we might spend hours answering emails or checking social media, thinking we’re being productive, but we’re actually avoiding the important work that needs to be done. To overcome this challenge, Vaden suggests being disciplined about our time. One effective strategy is to decide to tackle important tasks early in the day when our energy and focus are at their peak. By prioritizing these tasks, we set ourselves up for success and make significant progress toward our goals. Staying focused on what matters most is essential for high achievement. With practice, we can learn to recognize our avoidance behaviors and develop habits that help us stay on track, ensuring we use our time and energy wisely to accomplish what truly counts.