𝐀 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐨 𝐎𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 ... 𝐈 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 …!

Leaders requiring accountability before having ascertained the most important pre-condition … commitment. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

• Inadvertently creating a culture of fear and mistrust where people feel they are punished for mistakes or failures. This derails the best strategies and execution plans.

• Reluctance to take risks or innovate, decreased motivation and engagement, less collaboration, more complaining about others.

𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

• Commitment is the foundation upon which accountability should be built. Without it, holding someone accountable is like demanding they cross a bridge without ensuring it reaches the other side.

• Leaders must first inspire and secure commitment from their co-workers. This involves clear communication of the vision, the “why”, and aligning these with what is important to the team members and their goals.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

• The image to this post of a bridge stretching into the horizon symbolizes the journey from commitment to accountability with every step taken with purpose and mutual understanding.

• Accountability, then, becomes a shared responsibility, not a burden placed by the leader upon individuals. 

• It’s about supporting each other to reach the shared goals that everyone is committed to achieving.

𝐅𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

• Creating a culture where commitment is valued starts with your leadership. Demonstrating your own commitment to the team's goals and to each individual's success sets the tone.

• Engage with your team members, understand their aspirations and challenges, and integrate their perspectives into the collective mission. This fosters a deeper, personal commitment to the group's objectives.

𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫

• The journey of commitment to accountability is continuous. It requires constant dialogue, feedback, and adaptation. 

• Leaders and team members alike must be open to revisiting their commitments, reinforcing them, and realigning as needed.

• Celebrate milestones reached and lessons learned along the way. Acknowledging progress strengthens commitment and reinforces accountability as a positive, collective effort.

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

• Reflect on your leadership approach: Are you building the bridge of commitment before asking for accountability?

• Commit to building bridges together that lead to success.

• Discuss with your team what commitment means to them and how you can collectively ensure that the bridge to accountability is strong and leads to the desired destination.

𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 

• Avoid the mistake I also once made. Recognize that accountability without prior commitment is a path to “nowhere”, for everybody.