Accountability
Creating a culture of accountability is the key to sustained high performance.
Whilst most of us will have heard the saying "What doesn't get measured doesn't get done", the truth about accountability is a little more complex than measuring and monitoring. In most organisations today performance can no longer be measured with just a few key indicators. In addition, most of us operate within environments that are in a constant state of flux and what seemed a reasonable measure and performance yesterday may no longer be adequate tomorrow. Therefore, accountability extents beyond sticking to current rules and processes. It needs to include adherence to the team's and company's vision and direction.
You may have heard the saying that 'vision without action is dreaming'. What gets people in organisations into action is accountability. Only 18% of employees in Australian companies are 'actively engaged' (hence self-motivated), so for teams of individuals to excel in execution we need to need to create a framework for accountability.
The 5 most important actions leaders have to put in place to create a culture of accountability are:
- Translate strategy into specific, measurable objectives
- Clarify individual and team expectations
- Coordinate actions and measures across levels and teams
- Provide accurate and timely information to employees
- Monitor progress - provide appropriate reward & punishment
This intervention focuses on creating alignment between leaders and their team(s); on setting the right priorities for current and future performance; and on creating a shared culture of accountability within the whole team. The intervention typically includes:
- Designing and implementing a suitable framework for accountability
- Developing specific objectives in line with company strategy and priorities
- Analysing KPI's and identifying counterproductive or conflicting measures
- Developing suitable group and individual measures across levels and teams
- Implementing a process for maintaining clarity of expectations and purpose
- Identifying and coaching change leaders to implement changes
- Coaching individuals resistant to change
- Implementing a process for timely and accurate progress information
- Creating processes to sustain a culture of accountability
