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.
Why Do Some Leaders Fail?
Why Do Some Leaders Fail? Why are some leaders more successful than others? Why is it that some leaders are able to reach the pinnacle of success, while others end up on the scrap heap of leaders gone wrong? There is no secret to success. Some people figure out leadership and others don’t. But why…
Corporate America Is Buying Back Stocks at Record-Setting Pace
Corporate America Is Buying Back Stocks at Record-Setting Pace If you don’t follow the stock market closely then you may have missed an ongoing trend this year. Corporate America is buying back stocks at a massive rate. In fact, these buybacks are happening at a record-setting pace. So how big are the numbers, exactly? They’re…
Simple Steps to Building a Culture Of Direct Communication
Simple Steps to Building a Culture Of Direct Communication How’s the communication culture where you work? Is there open and direct communication? Do employees feel like they can speak with their bosses freely? Are supervisors easily accessible and willing to listen? Or, does it feel like you never know exactly what is going on, or…
How to Take Your Small Business to the Next Level
How to Take Your Small Business to the Next Level Are you looking for ways to give your small business a boost? Do you want your small business to shed its “small” description? Owning and running a small business has several challenges. In many cases, you have to wear multiple hats and do most of…