Implement tools to help you and your team better prioritize, align, and collaborate

Make accountability a must-have priority

on your team
September 27, 2023
Looking to increase team performance and boost morale? Build a culture of accountability.
When management expects workers to accept responsibility for their actions, individuals
and the group operate on a higher level.

You may think it’s easier to under-manage your employees and ignore issues that
need your attention than to step up and remedy the situation. But utilizing this
management practice, or lack thereof, causes more harm than good.

Step Up and Stop Under-Managing

Webinar: October 12 | Available Live or On-Demand

Register Now

Things for which employees should be held accountable include:

 Performing their assigned tasks

 Meeting deadlines
 Communicating with others
 Following company rules
 Contributing to a positive work environment

Workplaces low in accountability set the stage for various problems. Teams may have
difficulty producing up to par as the failure of someone to do his part affects the ability of
colleagues to do theirs. Similarly, co-workers become frustrated when others ignore
organizational policies or place blame elsewhere for their own shortcomings. While
accountability should be a natural part of every professional’s arsenal, smart leaders
realize it often requires nurturing. The following five actions assist with promoting
accountability:

1. Provide clarity
Make certain that workers know what they are accountable for. In addition to
understanding the company’s mission, they should thoroughly grasp their individual
responsibilities. Such knowledge prevents claims of “I didn’t realize …” as well as worries
of stepping on someone else’s toes. Project management tools can be an effective way
to outline tasks to clearly show who is doing what. Also, encourage everyone to
familiarize themselves with the employee handbook — a good point of reference
regarding expectations and consequences.

2. Prioritize your own accountability

The boss sets the tone. Do what you say you will do. Don’t overpromise and fail to
deliver. Eliminate favoritism and hold everyone to the same standards. Own up to your
errors. Don’t throw team members under the bus to make yourself look better. Accept
feedback and act on it. Live up to your own job description, including handling unpleasant
aspects such as disciplinary action.

Learn how to spot your management red flags, then ramp up your skills in the key
areas from prioritization, collaboration, and alignment while also self-assessing where
you may need to step up as a leader. After this session, you’ll be equipped to map a
plan to improve your mindset as a leader while also gaining easy-to-use tools to
implement immediately.

Step Up and Stop Under-Managing

3. Let people “own” their work

Accountability increases the skills and confidence of employees. It teaches them to think
things through and to acquire a vested interest in outcomes. Enable workers to rise to the
occasion by resisting the urge to micromanage.

Watch how you treat mistakes

Is yours a culture where mistakes are admitted and learned from or one where people
keep quiet out of fear? Sweeping things under the rug or blaming others become
attractive options when you face humiliation. Managers should encourage workers to put
forth their very best. But if something does go awry, employees need a safe environment
to analyze the problem.

Build a sense of belonging

Lastly, encourage team members to bond with one another. Accountability soars when
you do not want to disappoint your friends or be viewed as the weak link. Similarly, help
individuals see how their job contributes to overall success. People work harder and take
greater pride when they feel their efforts have meaning.

Leading through accountability to drive yourself and

your team to greatness

In this 75-minute interactive online training, you will learn how to:

 Spot the signs that you are under-managing employees, then make the
appropriate changes, and improve employee productivity and engagement
 Navigate conflict and feedback to drive behavior and performance
 Implement tools to help you and your team better prioritize, align, and collaborate

Register Now

Related Articles:

 New hire training checklist — set employees up for success

 How to deal with difficult coworkers
 Defining accountability at work
How can you improve your under-managed
team?

Bring your specific leadership questions and instructor

Catherine Rymsha will offer answers and assistance
during the dedicated Q&A time.

Learn to navigate competing priorities and stay focused

7600A Leesburg Pike, West Building, Suite 300,

Falls Church, VA 22043
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