Is Accountability the Immune System for your Team?
Is accountability the Immune System for your team?
When we have stress or don’t get enough sleep our immune system is compromised and we get sick. Just like people, teams can also get sick. Teams that are "sick" display the following symptoms:
- Internal fighting or underlying conflict
- Frequently missing deadlines
- Poor quality of work
- Constant miscommunication
- Disengaged employees
When teams show one of these symptoms (or more than one of the symptoms above), it is often indicative of a lack of accountability. Almost every leader I speak with places accountability as one of the three most important components of leadership. However, few leaders make efforts to build accountability within their organization.
Teams that have strong accountability take the following actions:
Develop Accountability in Managers
Accountability is not a natural personality characteristic. Managers have a tendency to be too direct or too passive. They might be disorganized or might micro-manage employees. Holding team members accountable is a skill that requires specific training and development.
Build a Culture of Accountability
Organizations with accountability are intentional about rewarding accountable behaviors. These organizations set clear goals, frequently review their progress towards accomplishing goals, and ensure goals are met.
Using a Carrot, Not a Stick
Nobody likes to be scolded or disciplined. The typical human needs to be rewarded at least 4 times to change a behavior. Leaders that praise and recognize team members for accomplishing goals have greater success than those who punish employees for mistakes.
Embrace Accountability at All Levels
Some leaders prefer to hold others accountable but aren’t as excited about being held accountable. For accountability to be embraced throughout all levels of the organization, leaders need to be held accountable just as consistently as individual contributors.
Companies that establish accountability and take proactive steps to create a culture of accountability generate better results and team members have higher engagement. While it might seem like a lot of work, the payoff cannot be debated. If you aren’t sure where to start or need help enhancing the approaches you’ve taken, contact us and we can help you improve the level of accountability throughout your organization.
