Teams break down when levels of accountability wane or are dropped. Leadership can get clunky when accountability is required with team members, particularly when performance issues need to be addressed.
Accountability is a two-way street whereas a Leader; you will also be accountable to the rest of the team.
Leaders understand that accountability is the cornerstone of success. It is intrinsically linked to both standards and expectations and is the third side of the triangle. Standards and expectations without accountability will lead to failure. If all members of the team are not held to account then standards drop, amended standards are introduced and the fuse of unrest and disappointment is lit.
Accountability for a new team member should start the day they join, irrespective of their level of experience. The leader’s expectation is that they will start learning the systems and be aware of the standards from day one. Good team members love to be held accountable and if left to their own devices with unmet expectations they will go looking elsewhere. In our experience, the agencies with high levels of accountability are the most sought after by new and experienced team members alike and are invariably the most successful in their patch.
Just as the team are accountable to the leader the leader is equally to the team. Leaders are accountable to the team to provide a supportive environment where the team have the opportunity to realise their potential, advance their skill level and to flourish.
