Are you Accountable?

Accountability is led from the top, and begins with you. How can we recognize if we are showing what accountability looks like?

We lead our business processes for success. Others watch how we run our lives, how we make choices, and if we do what we say we are going to do. Holding ourselves accountable is very difficult, as humans our brain justifies why we did or didn't do something. Then it becomes a habit.

How do we change the habit of 'trying to do what we say we are going to do'?

Here are some tips on how to improve accountability in your business:

1. Lead by example. Employees are more likely to be accountable if they see their leaders being accountable. This means setting clear expectations, following through on commitments, and taking responsibility for mistakes.

2. Create a culture of trust. Employees need to feel like they can trust their leaders and colleagues in order to be accountable. This means creating an environment where employees feel comfortable speaking up, asking for help, and admitting mistakes.

3. Set clear goals and expectations. Employees need to know what is expected of them in order to be accountable. This means setting clear goals and expectations, both for individual employees and for teams.

4. Provide regular feedback. Employees need to know how they are doing in order to be accountable. This means providing regular feedback, both positive and negative.

5. Hold people accountable. When employees don't meet expectations, it's important to hold them accountable. This doesn't mean punishing them, but it does mean having a conversation about what went wrong and how it can be prevented in the future.

6. Celebrate success. When employees meet expectations, it's important to celebrate their success. This shows them that their hard work is appreciated and that they are valued members of the team.

Our behavior with our customers, employees, and family members is the same. Start by asking them "do I do what I say I am going to do?" And let the space be there for them to respond, honestly. Then practice every day doing what you say you are going to do, with no justification. Put a time frame to when it will be done so you CAN track it's completion. Even if you do just one thing you said you were going to do, keep track, and celebrate.

Here are some additional tips that may be helpful:

Use a performance management system. A performance management system can help you track employee performance and identify areas where employees need improvement.

Provide training and development opportunities. Employees who are well-trained and developed are more likely to be accountable.

Create a positive work environment. Employees who are happy and engaged in their work are more likely to be accountable.

Reward and recognize employees for their accomplishments. When employees are recognized for their accomplishments, they are more likely to be motivated to continue performing at a high level.

By following these tips, you can create a culture of accountability in your life which will transcend into your business to help you achieve your goals.

Categories: : Leadership, Scaling