Why is Accountability Important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Workplace accountability is an excellent attitude to foster in your employees, as people who feel as though they are in charge of their actions are more likely to invest in their success. Rather than simply telling your team how you\u2019d like them to behave, you can create an environment that allows them to drive and maintain their improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What does accountability look like in action? It can cover all sorts of ways that your employees interact with your organisation, their workload and each other. Here are a few examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Good timekeeping<\/strong>: An employee who holds themselves accountable for their timekeeping will be present for meetings and commitments as promised. They stay on top of their deliverables and manage their flexitime effectively.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Honesty and integrity<\/strong>: By being honest about their workloads and capability, as well as any issues they\u2019ve recognised, employees can act with integrity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Clear communication:<\/strong> Employees who know how to communicate what they need and who are brave about tackling difficult conversations show great accountability for the way they interact with their colleagues.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
How to Improve Accountability in the Workplace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Give your employees the foundation they need to be more accountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Set Clear Expectations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Without a clear idea of what\u2019s expected from them, employees will struggle to take responsibility. You can set these out in a few important ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Create clear job descriptions that are realistic and accurate. Avoid role ambiguity \u2013 everyone should know who is responsible for what \u2013 and be sure to revisit the description at least once a year. Roles can shift over time, as an organisation evolves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Establish clear goals and objectives and agree on how these will be measured. It\u2019s fine to have more general ambitions, but introducing things like SMART goals will give employees a comforting framework.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Communicate all expectations. There\u2019s no point coming up with the things you\u2019d like your employees to do if you\u2019re not able to communicate it to them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
2. Lead by Example<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Strong leadership is essential if you want to create and foster a culture of accountability. A study by Partners in Leadership<\/a> found that 84% of employees felt that the way leaders behave is the single most important factor influencing accountability in their organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leaders who demonstrate that they take responsibility for their actions and can show how those align with the company\u2019s culture will lay the foundation for a team that does the same. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Make Accountability a Core Value<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By taking accountability into the heart of your organisation\u2019s ethos, you\u2019ll show employees how important it is to you. Ensure that you showcase accountability in a positive light. It should be about empowerment<\/a>, awareness and the ability to take risks, not a way to push any sort of blame onto employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Making it part of your core values<\/a> helps everyone work together towards the same ultimate goal \u2013 a workplace that celebrates accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Keep Track of Commitments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Encourage employees to make a note of commitments and share them with their team leader, manager or peers. Without a record of their plans, it can be difficult to measure progress and stay on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It can be difficult for one individual to keep track of their own behaviours \u2013 we all have a bit of natural bias! Agreeing to hold each other accountable in a supportive and friendly way can make a big difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do be sure to master constructive feedback<\/a> before weighing in, though. The American Society of Training and Development found that if people make a commitment to a goal and share it, they\u2019re 65% more likely<\/a> to meet it. Increasing to 95% if they build in ongoing meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Implement Performance Metrics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In addition to keeping track of commitments, it is a good idea to measure accountability through key performance indicators (KPIs). Establish things that employees agree to be accountable for and check back during your regular reviews and check-in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regular evaluation is an opportunity to keep things on track \u2013 just be sure to choose the right metrics for your organisation and remember that this should be part of a positive progression, which helps employees grow more motivated. It\u2019s always important to balance accountability with employee care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Use the RACI Matrix<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This clear and easy-to-follow matrix is perfect for defining the roles of any given team member in a particular goal. Roles and responsibilities often change between projects, and this is a great way to ensure everyone is on the same page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed and each is a role that any project stakeholder can be assigned. Create a written record using a RACI template<\/a> and break down all of the tasks in a given project, and assign the role each member will play. This helps keep everyone on the same page and makes it easy for employees to know what they are accountable for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Foster open communication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Clear and open communication<\/a> is incredibly important when it comes to encouraging employees to take accountability. It\u2019s essential for leaders to build trust and create an environment where it\u2019s possible for team members to honestly voice their strengths, weaknesses and challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This allows them the freedom to take charge of their own growth and career development, while also ensuring that problems aren\u2019t left to grow and fester under the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. Reward and Recognise Accountability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One of the best ways to bake accountability into your workplace is to make sure you recognise and reward<\/a> employees who are embracing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Honesty and integrity<\/strong>: By being honest about their workloads and capability, as well as any issues they\u2019ve recognised, employees can act with integrity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
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