How Leaders Can Demonstrate Accountability

A good leader is engaged and holds themselves and their team accountable. “True leadership team accountability is a commitment to the team that each team member will do what they say, accept responsibility for their actions and outcomes, and proactively and constructively help each other live up to their commitments,” according to a ChiefExecutive.net.

Here are six suggestions on how to embed accountability into your leadership team.

1. Model accountability.
The best way to implement accountability throughout your team is to model it yourself by:

• Taking responsibility for your actions
• Admitting when you make a mistake
• Avoiding shifting blame to others
• Receiving feedback with grace
• Creating a welcoming environment

2. Follow through on actions.
As a leader, you have a lot of commitments—to your team, your Board, your patients, and other shareholders. Your hospital or facility loses money every time you punt a commitment or deprioritize an action. You must commit to getting things done right, on budget, and on time. To that end, you’ll need to regularly review your systems and protocols to ensure efficiency while following through on your action items.

3. Collaborate more.
Working with others is essential to success. As a ChiefExecutive.net article stated, “It is more natural to circle the wagons and look inward in your teams instead of outward to collaborate with other teams and departments. It is hard to think about the best use of resources for the company, not just for your team.” Collaboration can bring about better outcomes because everyone has input into the process.

4. Have tough conversations.
Don’t avoid painful or hard discussions. Instead, become adept at having uncomfortable talks with your team. Being willing to tackle tough topics is one way to keep yourself accountable while setting an example for your team.

This starts by fostering an environment of trust and transparency, where employees and fellow leaders feel comfortable bringing up less-than-stellar scenarios. Practice active listening (opposed to only offering defensive rebuttals) and come together to find a tangible solution or next steps.

5. Manage expectations.
Leaders must be sure expectations are clear and achievable for both overall team goals and individuals within the team. Communicate those expectations in writing and verbally to ensure dissemination to everyone on the team.

6. Clarify structure.
Ensure you have the structure to support accountability on each task, such as assigned responsibilities, time frames, and project scope. It helps you avoid churning over the same issues and exhausting your team. In short, make an agenda and and stick to it.

In addition, add progress reviews to further accountability.

Leaders who embrace accountability on a personal and professional level show their team members how valuable being answerable can be to achieving their goals. Great leaders also assist their team members in becoming more accountable and better able to meet the challenges and objectives of the entire organization.