Accountability is crucial in the workplace. It’s taking ownership not just for what you do but for the outcome and how it impacts your promo company. When people feel a sense of accountability, they go beyond just completing their own work but want to ensure their co-workers are also doing their best.
Sales and leadership expert Steve Keating believes that accountability can be summed up in 2 parts. The first part, he says, is that every individual performs better when someone holds them accountable. The second part is that almost no one enjoys having accountability. While everyone needs accountability to be successful in their personal and professional lives, it’s not something that people necessarily love.
Because of these complicated feelings surrounding accountability, it’s even more important to build the right kind of culture around it. This, Keating says, is key to good leadership and lasting success. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we share Keating’s guidance for designing a workplace culture with accountability at the forefront.
Set clear expectations. Every team member should know their roles and responsibilities. Specificity is critical here, Keating says. Document everything in writing to eliminate ambiguity.
Lead by example. When you want others to be accountable, model it yourself. Be forthcoming, admit your mistakes and do what you say you’ll do. Keating says this shows that accountability applies at all levels, including leadership.
Encourage ownership. According to Keating, one of the best ways to do this is to provide autonomy. Let team members make decisions and hold them responsible for the outcome. It’s also important, he says, to reward those who take responsibility and deliver results.
Hold regular one-on-ones. Use these check-ins to review progress and address challenges. Keating says you could also hold regular team reviews to monitor collective accountability and discuss goals in a group setting.
Define consequences. What happens when goals aren’t met? People need to know the impact of missed outcomes. If they don’t, Keating says it’s a leadership failure.
Support development. Make sure everyone on your team has the right training, tools and support to grow as a promo pro. Keating recommends encouraging and rewarding participation in professional development.
Celebrate accountability. Is there someone on your team who consistently demonstrates accountability? Highlight them in a team meeting. Another idea, according to Keating, is to share examples of accountability leading to positive outcomes. When you want accountability to matter, make a big deal out of it.
Focus on continuous improvement. Things don’t always go as planned. Use these circumstances as opportunities to grow and improve processes.
Accountability differentiates high-performing teams from those that tend to shift blame or avoid responsibilities. Apply the tips above, like setting clear expectations and providing regular feedback, to make accountability second nature to your team.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Steve Keating has over 30 years of sales and sales leadership experience. He’s a renowned speaker who presents around the world on topics including leadership, sales and business management.
