Leaders have different opinions about the word “accountability.”
Some cringe when they hear it because they see it as a stick. They prefer to be supportive leaders and not to focus on performance.
Others focus intensely on accountability and view the people side of business as too “touchy-feely.” They see accountability as the only driver of results.
But the truth is somewhere in the middle.
Supportive leadership and accountability are not mutually exclusive. The key to ensuring employees are as engaged and productive as possible is to focus on both supportive leadership and accountability.
As a leader, an essential part of your job is to get work done through others. You’re responsible for holding yourself and employees accountable for meeting performance goals and objectives. To accomplish this, focus on the 4 Ps of Accountability – people, purpose, performance, and progression.
- People – People matter. People are your organization’s most important resource. People drive performance—not technology, performance goals, strategy, or anything else. As you promote accountability, help people feel valued and cared about.
- Purpose – The goal of accountability isn’t to punish, but rather to create a supportive work environment where employees can thrive and drive performance. The purpose of accountability is to advance your organization’s vision, focus on achieving goals, empower employees to perform, and account for progress and results.
- Performance – Accountability focuses on performance and ensures everyone is contributing to the organization’s success. Focusing on performance improves morale. As you focus on performance, don’t compromise your integrity or ethics. It’s equally important to avoid the appearance of compromise.
- Progression – Accountability requires progression, the act of moving forward through continuous improvement until performance goals are achieved. When employees are doing well, it involves catapulting performance to higher levels. When employees are struggling, progression is the act of moving forward to help employees meet expectations.
Balancing Accountability and Support
Effective accountability is a balancing act. While it’s essential to ensure employees are meeting performance goals and advancing the organization’s priorities, it’s equally important to create a supportive work environment where employees can thrive and bring their best to work.
Accountability matters. People matter more.
