Why Accountability Starts with Leadership

The thing about building a culture of accountability is that it only works if everyone is on board, whether it’s a new hire, someone who has been with the company for years, or top leadership. Accountability applies to all levels of employment, and there is not a single person who is exempt from the rules or responsibilities of the organization. Being in charge does not mean that you do not have to adhere to the same standards as the rest of the team. In fact, you have a greater responsibility as a leader to set the right example by demonstrating the values, standards, and outcomes that you expect from everyone else.

If you would not put up with your employees falling short of organizational standards, why should it be any different for you? Many people believe that being in a position of power means that they get special privileges, and while there are certain advantages, being free from accountability is not one of them. Teaching others to be responsible for themselves requires you to also self-manage and take ownership of your outcomes. Buy-in comes from the top down, whether that relates to communication practices, the pursuit of goals, or in this case, the responsibility for yourself.

Part of the struggle with leadership accepting responsibility is that they want the credit for the good things, but they do not want the  blame for the bad things that occur. When the team does well, they celebrate with them and point out their own contributions, but when the team does poorly, leadership may try to distance themselves from the outcomes of the team and accuse their people of not following their direction. This lack of consistency in ownership of outcomes leads to the disruption of team dynamics, often leading to further problems. You win and you lose as a team, and you don’t get to only include yourself in the things that benefit you as a leader.

To move away from an individualistic mindset to a collectivistic mindset, you must first develop a sense of self-awareness. Where are you at in your leadership journey? How do you approach team successes and failures? Do you think of yourself as different from the rest of your team? After you answer these questions, evaluate what your goal is as a leader. If you want your team to perform at higher levels, and if you want organizational success, you must be willing to put in the work just like everyone else. How can you hold anyone else accountable if you believe you are exempt? The behaviors, attitudes, and actions of the team are a reflection of your leadership, which means that you go first in all that you expect from others.

Accountability starts with leadership, and it applies to every single member of the team. In the words of football coach Mike Shanahan, “There can be no separation in your organization. You win as a team, you lose as a team.” When everyone owns the effort and the outcome together, you build a culture of trust, respect, and shared success.

-Meghan Slaughter