Accountability In Leadership!

According to research, Accountability in leadership means a leader to accept accountability for all the decisions of his/her administration.

Without accountability, even the most brilliant, hard - working, well - intentioned world leaders will fail, they will fail to meet their performance goals, they will fail to develop their teams, they will fail to hire top talent, they will fail to set good and effective examples for their employees, they will fail to communicate clearly, they will fail to optimize performance, they will also fail in doing business. Effective leadership requires real accountability.

What Is Accountability?
According to Brandon Hall, 'When leaders take personal accountability, they are willing to answer for the outcomes of their choices, their behavior, and their actions in all situations in which they are involved. Accountable leaders do not blame or point fingers to others when things go topsy - turvy. Rather, they make things right, and they are fixers. Accountable leaders build an accurate understanding of their organization - where it excels and where it has opportunity. Accountable leaders step up to champion opportunities to succeed. Accountable leaders question the decisions and processes that shape your organization. They ask questions and they find answers - the best answers.'

Accountability goes beyond individual actions and decisions. Accountable leaders assume ownership for the performance of their teams.

An accountable leader takes responsibility. Taking responsibility can be frightening, especially for new leaders. But it beats the alternative which is having forced upon you. Until you take responsibility, you are nothing more than a martyr. And a Martyr is the opposite of a leader.

Four Strategies To Becoming More Accountable In Leadership.
1. According to research, Accountability starts with honesty. Often this requires settling aside personal pride, admitting your own mistakes, and being completely honest with yourself. Honest leaders become accountable by reviewing their own role in a situation and devising a reasonable solution to resolve issues, conflict, and challenges in an authentic and genuine fashion.

2. Accountability leaders voluntarily say 'I'm sorry' when something has gone awry and they are responsible for the wrong doing. The backdrop a real apology is a focus on making amends, committing to what needs to be done to fix the situation, and executing on it when promised. By apologizing and creating a plan to fix the situation, accountable leaders allow a focus on the end goal rather than on the problem.

3. Accountable leaders seek input from others - bosses, peer, direct reports, friends and partners, and about how something that didn't go so well could have gone better. Accountable leaders look for ways to do things differently in the future. They seek opportunities to initiate change when the change instigates improved ways of handling situations, making decisions, and developing talents.

4. Accountable leaders do not avoid responsibility, they do not procrastinate and they do not under or over commit. They know when to say no and they know when to ask for more. before agreeing to new tasks, new deliverable's, new to - do's, they review their schedules and know whether they have the physical time required to complete the work on time and with quality. If unsure about whether they can commit, they say no to the task and yes to the person asking for the commitment. In this way, accountable leaders provide their own insurance that they won't let promised work go undone.

Accountability Makes A Business Difference
Developing accountability is a challenge for most leaders, exactly why more organizations told us that they plan to invest more resources on helping to build their leaders as accountable. Accountability builds trust within teams, creates respect between leaders and employees, and promotes a sense of fairness that is essential to an engaged work force. Accountability is about the near- wins, not the wins. Accountability is the striving and the reaching, the journey, the promise of getting there, and the perpetual self - refinement. Accountability  is about a leader's overall commitment to excellence and elevating her games. Keeping herself improving and fired up. That is the mark of a time leader. Accountability is exactly why there are so few real leaders.

Thanks for reading and until next post.

Bye for now!