Leadership is Accountability
Accountability in leadership is critical. A leader who accepts accountability for actions is one whom others will gain trust. Accountability is a key trait for leaders to instill as a foundation. Accountability will not only lead to trust but also to:
Establishing Accountability in Leadership
• Stronger relationships;
• Bonding;
• Loyalty; and
• Respect.
Followers look to leaders who are accountable for decisions for support and guidance. Having followers is an opportunity to create more leaders through leadership development. Where are you guiding your future leaders with a strong foundation of accountability? As a foundation, leadership accountability provides leaders an opportunity to align with organizational vision and values.
Molinaro, V. (2015) discusses the importance of leaders who drive teams to a higher level of accountability to deliver performance and results. It will be accountability that helps guide the team through a successful journey to meet objectives.
Seven steps that can lead to improved accountability include:
- Define Clear Expectations: Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals to ensure employees understand exactly what is required of them.
- Assign Ownership: Assign specific tasks and ensure team members own their results, rather than just the tasks themselves.
- Provide Necessary Resources: Ensure employees have the tools, training, and support required to meet their objectives, making accountability a shared, two-way street.
- Monitor Progress Regularly: Use project tracking systems and hold regular check-ins to monitor progress, allowing for adjustments before issues become critical failures.
- Create a Feedback Loop: Offer consistent, constructive feedback rather than waiting for annual reviews, allowing employees to correct course immediately.
- Establish Consequences and Recognition: Implement positive consequences (recognition/rewards) for meeting goals and clear, fair consequences for failing to meet them.
- Foster a Culture of Responsibility: Leaders must model accountability by owning their mistakes, avoiding blame, and building trust, as suggested by this Forbes article and this Vistage article.
Thanks and visit bleadersedge.com for more information of leadership training.
Mike
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