A huge challenge facing companies today is ensuring accountability through their business values, policies and their procedures. I’m sure we’ve all experienced numerous businesses continuously ignoring, sabotaging or breaking their previously established rules, standards and expectations.
As a business owner or people manager, you need to make sure that your expectations are happening on a regular basis. This can be a difficult task.
Examples of activities that reflect a lack of accountability include:
- Employee favouritism
- Managing with an ego-centred rather than “other-focused” style
- Inconsistent punishment for offences
- Expecting certain manners without taking the time to inspect whether the behaviour is really happening
- Out-of-control arrogance with the owner and/or management team
Be visible to your team
You can’t manage your organisation, department or team from the desk in your office. It’s important as a manager to be visible in your team, get to know your people and find out what they are doing. This task is essential and will have positive repercussions however it does take a lot of commitment and time.
It’s a good idea to conduct an employee perception and attitude audit. Also to be fair and accurate, it’s recommended you hire an outside coach or advisor to conduct such a survey or audit. Furthermore, the survey must be confidential to ensure employees will be honest and don’t fear retribution or punishment for delivering bad or critical feedback.
Finally, there are three things to think about when it comes to the concept of accountability in your business:
- You shouldn’t expect different results from the same, repeated behaviour.
- Remember you get the behaviour you reward in your organization. To change behaviour, you must change the reward system you already have in place.
- All culture flows top-down. You won’t change an organization from the bottom up.
If you’re struggling to ensure accountability in your business, and need some advice, speak to ActionCOACH today.
