The Keystone to Leadership: Cultivate Personal Accountability
When it comes to solid leadership, personal accountability stands as the bedrock upon which successful organizations are built. It is the guiding principle that shapes not only individual behavior, but also sets the tone for your organization’s culture and performance. At MAP, we understand that in today’s dynamic and competitive business landscape, leaders who embrace personal accountability propel their teams and organizations toward unprecedented success. They achieve breakthrough results faster.
That said, you probably know what personal accountability is… taking ownership of your actions, decisions and outcomes. Regardless of whether results are good, bad, or fall somewhere in between, it’s consistently holding yourself accountable for those outcomes. Leaders who uphold personal accountability inspire trust, uphold integrity, and drive continuous improvement for themselves, their teams, and the organization at large. So, what are some proven ways to create and sustain personal accountability?
Write your professional development plan. If you want to take personal accountability seriously as a leader, you’ll need a customized plan. When crafting that document, start by focusing on, “What’s the goal?” to address what you want to achieve, the targets you want to reach, and where you envision yourself in the future. Leaders who uphold personal accountability use this blueprint to ensure that the destination is reached. Importantly, they share it with a trusted advisor, mentor, or executive coach—someone who can help provide input on this living document and offer guidance around troubleshooting if necessary.
Lead by example. If you want the people around you to be held accountable for their personal and professional activities, you’ve got to do the same. This means disciplining yourself to:
- Follow through on commitments
- Focus on what’s vital
- Meet your deadlines
- Get out of your own way
- Admit mistakes
- Course-correct when necessary
- Be curious
- Push your comfort zone
- Truly embrace a growth mindset versus a victim mindset.
When you uphold personal accountability and model this for others, you will earn their respect and trust.
Foster a culture of accountability. Beyond holding yourself accountable, it’s essential to extend that expectation to others, ideally using a proven accountability system where everyone is aligned and focused on their vital goal(s). The right accountability system will not only set expectations and goals for your people, but also drive results through transparency, communication, and actionable strategies that bridge the gap between good ideas and execution. Additionally, your system will address performance issues and fuel productivity through feedback, necessary professional development, tools, coaching, recognition and reward achievements.
Ready to take charge of your personal accountability and take your leadership to new heights? Contact MAP today!
