Accountability in Four Easy Steps
Source: Partner Insights
The following includes excerpts, reproduced with permission, from an article by Marty Stanley, president of Dynamic Dialog, Inc.
Accountability hasn’t been considered the “next big idea” because it’s not “flashy.” There are no “bragging rights” about implementing an accountability process. After all, accountability means people would need to change, rather than a system or process that needs to change. And who wants to be accountable if it means having to personally change?
On the other hand we’ve seen what happens when there’s no accountability for leading people or processes: The dot-com bust, Enron, Katrina, FEMA…Scandals everywhere: Politics, religion, sports…Bernie Madoff, bailouts and industries collapsing…Product recalls, contaminated foods, greed, waste and excess.
Here are four easy steps to holding people accountable:
- Use job descriptions as the basis for hiring or promoting people into a position.
- Share the job description with incumbents so they know their accountabilities and let them know this will be used for training, coaching, and performance feedback.
- Have objective ways to measure and monitor performance and communicate those methods to the people performing the jobs. Follow through by providing feedback about performance.
- Provide training and coaching opportunities to enhance performance.
Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003
Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003 On Nov. 11, 2003, President Bush signed into law the Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003. Among its provisions are these tax breaks related to military personnel: Death benefits The death gratuity paid to survivors of deceased Armed Forces members rises to $12,000 and is not taxable…
Voluntary Compliance Program for Withholding Agents
Voluntary Compliance Program for Withholding Agents In a memo dated February 25, 2005, the IRS Large & Mid-size Business Division, announced that based on recently received Chief Counsel Advice, withholding agents participating in the Section 1441 Voluntary Compliance Program (VCP) would not be subject to interest charges under certain circumstances. Section 1441 requires withholding agents…
Are Casualty and Theft Losses Tax Deductible?
Are Casualty and Theft Losses Tax Deductible? If your property is destroyed, damaged, or stolen due to casualty or theft, you may be entitled to a tax deduction. A casualty is the damage, destruction, or loss of property resulting from an identifiable event that is sudden, unexpected, and unusual. A sudden event is one that…
How to Defend Yourself When Your QuickBooks Files Are Part of an Audit
How to Defend Yourself When Your QuickBooks Files Are Part of an Audit The world of technology has changed just about every aspect of our lives. The tax and accounting world is no different. Thanks to online tax programs and software packages designed for accounting purposes, keeping a solid record of your important financial information…