Accountability starts at the top.
As the CEO of your organization, your job is to lead with integrity and do the right thing even when no one is watching. Business owners and CEOs with integrity set the tone for a culture of accountability within the workplace.
Why Accountability Matters…
It is much more efficient to water a garden with an irrigation system rather than individually water each plant. Though individual attention may still be required (some plants need more water than others), the job gets done a lot faster with a system in place. Think of accountability as needing to water each and every plant individually, while a culture of accountability is the irrigation system. If you have created a culture of accountability, everyone understands and knows the expectations inherent within their position and has a system to report accomplishments and review the accomplishments of others.
If your business could use an accountability culture boost, try the following tips to get back on the right path.
Share your why. Go back to step 1 in our work together and make sure that everyone is on-board with your why. This ensures you’re all working towards the same contribution. This will help you gain commitment from your employees.
Define results and expectations for each position with everyone. We’ve all worked at a position or served on a board where there is that one person that we just wonder what they do. It creates ill-will and resentment and has no place in a well-run company. Ensuring all employees understand how each team member contributes to the shared vision will help achieve the desired results. Remember the saying – Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.
Be willing to teach and coach. You may have employees who have never had the opportunity to be accountable. Accountability may require new skills and behaviors that you will need to teach and coach. Provide them with the right tools (we love Aspire Software for their fantastic accountability checklists by position!) and mindset to start each day with accountability.
Consequences and rewards. For the culture to be properly set and reinforced, there must be consequences and rewards. Your employees must know that you are serious about accountability and have consequences for poor performance and rewards for consistent positive results and behaviors.
The ultimate goal of a culture of accountability, is everyone holds everyone accountable! Every employee takes ownership of organizational results, not just their own little piece of the pie.
Are your employees being held accountable? Are you? What would it mean to your business to have a team of committed, enthusiastic employees who all work together to pursue your why?
Success. It would mean success for your business.
