“Hey! Fix this or it’s your job on the line”… Does this statement sound familiar? It is perhaps the perspective most of us have on accountability as we’ve experienced it from one or two supervisors. But is that what accountability is about?
Yes, threats may get the work done as effectively as desired but fear has been instilled. Where there is fear there’s no trust and this leaves the company in a worse shape as employees would begin to resent their jobs and supervisors.
SO WHAT DOES ACCOUNTABILITY MEAN?
It is accepting responsibility to achieve honest and ethical conduct toward others. In simpler terms, it is the act of holding yourself accountable to others. Accountability is an essential component in becoming an effective leader.
A recent study shows that leaders who possess accountability and integrity qualities are likely to be more successful than their peers.
Ways Accountability benefits and yield success
Accountability leads to success not just by helping you achieve your goals but by also inspiring the people around you. And this works by improving;
Teamwork:
Operating a system where accountability is key helps to motivate employees to take responsibility for their work. This allows every sector of such an organization to work together toward a common goal.
Not only will worker productivity and commitment increase there is also a foundation for building trust and a better relationship.
It also increases positivity in the working space and your team can work more efficiently and successfully toward organizational goals.
Alignment:
The only way accountability works well is when everyone is on the same page.
Goal alignment is critical for increasing productivity in your team and increasing your company’s chances of success.
This makes it easier for your team to understand what needs to get done and how they are all part of the bigger picture.
Engagement:
Improved engagement leads to productivity and better results and it can be achieved by setting clear expectations and providing real purpose for teams.
Setting goals helps to clarify an employee’s role, and while it’s important to have ambitious expectations, they need to be achievable. So when setting goals ensure that they are SMART (specific, measurable, actionable, results-oriented, and time-bound).
SMART goals promote accountability by motivating employees to push themselves and grow beyond their comfort zones.
Productivity:
Productivity in the working world is how success and failure are established, there’s no better way to boost productivity than through accountability.
When you consider the cost of not doing something, it’s easy to see the value of accountability. Failure to follow through on commitments can have serious consequences, such as missing deadlines on important tasks. Missed deadlines, little or no productivity, and no accountability are recipes for failure.
Traits of an accountable leader
As a leader you play a big role in achieving an accountable workspace and here are some traits you have to possess to be able to lead your team to success.
Communication:
You must be able to effectively communicate clear directions to your team as it encourages alignment and clarity of purpose. Vague communication will cause your team to lose direction and become disengaged.
Delegation:
It is important to prioritize helping your team understand their focus areas. Constantly watching over their shoulders is no way to build accountability. However, when you support them in achieving their goals, they feel accountable for their actions and take ownership of their mistakes.
Good listening skills:
A vital part of accountability is establishing a sense of trust in the group where members of the team can be open and vulnerable.
So you have to be able to build an environment where your team is heard.
Ownership:
As a leader, you must first be responsible for your actions.
Be accountable for your mistakes, own them, and make amends as soon as possible.
This breeds honesty and trust in the workspace.
Invest in your team:
When you invest in people they feel appreciated and respected.
The opportunities you provide them make them more invested in their work and accountable for how they perform.
Dear friends, taking everything into account, nurturing a culture of accountability on your team will not only boost employee confidence and productivity. There is also an improved sense of ownership your team needs to thrive.
You’d agree with me that it is impossible to create a high-performing team that is capable of achieving success when there’s a lack of accountability.
If you feel there’s a lack of accountability on your team, then it’s time to make some changes!
Till we meet again, God bless you.
