Accountability
“The quality or state of being accountable; the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s actions”
Simple definition.
Hard execution.
Because accountability doesn’t start with your team.
It starts with you.
It moves outward to everyone around you — and eventually circles right back into your lap.
If you believe leadership sets the culture of an organization, then you also have to accept this truth
You cannot build a culture of accountability without personal discipline.
If you’re unwilling to hold yourself accountable, you have no chance of holding others accountable.
And let’s be honest…
Why should your people do what leadership says is important if leadership doesn’t do it themselves?
There are a thousand ways to explain that, but I’m a common-sense guy.
Monkey see. Monkey do.
A strong leader makes sure people know what matters.
A great leader makes things matter by checking to ensure they actually get done.
Accountability isn’t an event.
It isn’t a meeting.
It isn’t a speech.
It’s a daily standard — led by you.
And here’s the part many leaders forget:
Accountability plays no favorites.
The moment you let one person off the hook, eventually the entire organization slips off the hook.
Standards don’t slowly erode.
They collapse.
Beyond personal accountability, holding others accountable comes down to three things:
1. Street Savvy
Experience matters. Awareness matters. Some people develop it over time — a few are born with it — but every leader must learn to read situations, people, and patterns.
2. Get Your Head Out of the Office
Leadership doesn’t happen behind a desk.
Walk the floor.
Listen more.
Watch more.
Use your peripheral vision and your ears. The truth about your operation rarely shows up in a report first.
3. Data
Look at the numbers — and then look again.
Yes, data can feel overwhelming. That’s why common sense matters more than spreadsheets.
Figure out what actually matters.
Sometimes data misleads you.
Sometimes it hits you right between the eyes.
Your job is knowing the difference.
That’s all I’m going to say.
— Tommy Gibbs