Leading With Accountability: A Necessity For Great Leaders

I don’t think there will ever come a time when we won’t need more people in high authority leading with accountability. It’s necessary in roles as small as store managers and as big as national leaders. So, why do some leaders think they don’t need to be accountable?

When you’re in a position of power, it might feel like you answer to nobody. After all, you worked hard to get there. So, why should you answer to anyone, especially those beneath you? But this isn’t the right mindset.

Having no accountability can have terrible consequences for you and the business. You are human and prone to mistakes. If you can’t answer for them, you might make bolder and riskier ones. Eventually, you lose your team’s trust, affecting productivity, work relationships, and more.

So, leading with accountability is absolutely necessary. The good news is that leaders can take matters into their own hands. In this blog, I will show you how you can be accountable as a leader.

What Happens When You Lead With Accountability?

Your Team Will Trust You More.

When you start leading with accountability, your team sees that you’re taking responsibility for your actions. It makes them feel more secure and trusting towards you.

Imagine you’re on a sports team: if the captain admits when they’ve made a mistake, the rest of the players are more likely to trust them. It’s the same in the workplace.

Trust holds everything together, and leading with accountability strengthens that trust. Your team will know they can count on you, and that makes for a happier and more productive work environment.

You Will Strengthen Relationships Between Departments.

When leaders in different departments start leading with accountability, it sets a great example. People in one department will notice and appreciate that leaders in another department are taking responsibility for their actions. It creates a ripple effect, leading to stronger relationships across the board.

When departments trust each other, they collaborate better, share resources more willingly, and generally get along much better. 

Your Team Will Be More Forthcoming In Admitting Mistakes

If you lead with accountability, your team will feel safe admitting their own mistakes. They’ll see that it’s okay to mess up sometimes as long as you own up to it and learn from it. The openness can lead to great improvements and innovations because people aren’t afraid to try new things.

It’s like a classroom where the teacher encourages you to ask questions and try, even if you get it wrong. A culture of honesty and growth blossoms, making your team more creative and effective in the long run.

You Will Perform Better As A Leader

When you are leading with accountability, you naturally become more aware of your actions and their impact. This self-awareness helps you make better decisions and improves your leadership skills.

Think of it like leveling up in a video game: each time you take responsibility, you gain experience points that make you a stronger leader.

Your team will see your growth and be inspired to follow your lead, creating a positive cycle of improvement and success.

There Will Be Better Communication Among Teams

Leading with accountability encourages open and honest communication. When everyone knows that mistakes can be discussed openly without fear of harsh judgment, they’re more likely to speak up. It leads to better problem-solving and more innovative ideas.

Imagine a place where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts because they know they’ll be heard and respected. That’s the kind of environment you create when you lead with accountability. Teams will communicate more effectively, and projects will run more smoothly as a result.

You Will Have A Great Reputation

Lastly, leading with accountability gives you a stellar reputation. People admire leaders who can admit when they’re wrong and strive to do better. Your peers, team members, and even higher-ups will respect you more. 

It can open doors to new opportunities and career advancements. People are drawn to power and responsibility—having both makes you a role model. Your great reputation will benefit you and inspire others to lead with accountability.

Leading with Accountability: Taking Responsibility Like a Boss

So how does one take responsibility for their actions literally like a boss? Think of developing accountability as developing any other skill. You learn, you practice, and you keep learning and practicing until it becomes second nature. Here’s what to start with:

Set Personal Goals

As a leader, you should have personal goals. These goals guide you and tell you if you are heading in the right direction. Your initial goal may have been to become a leader, but now it’s time to make new goals. Having goals helps you stay focused and measure your progress.

The same way you hold employees to meeting certain achievements is the same way you should hold yourself to your goals. If you fail to achieve them, it means you have something to be accountable for.

By setting and striving for these goals, you can see the results of your efforts and work on being better.

Leading with accountability means always having something to aim for and being honest about whether you’ve hit the mark.

Track Your Progress Consistently

Always make sure that your goals have a deadline. These deadlines should be efficient and practical. Track your progress through these deadlines. As you move forward, adjust your approach to make sure you are efficient and on time.

Tracking your progress is like holding up a mirror to yourself. It helps you stay focused on your work and ensures you’re constantly moving forward.

By consistently checking in on your progress, you’re embracing leading with accountability. In addition, it shows your team that you’re serious about improving and achieving your goals.

Find A Mentor

Sometimes, the only way to be accountable is to actually be accountable to someone else. Yes, you are a leader with nobody to answer to, but a mentor can give you the same feeling, making you feel like you answer to them.

Select a mentor, someone you admire in your field, or someone you would like to be like. Develop a mentorship plan and share it with them. Let them understand your needs. Set up frequent meetings where you share your progress, challenges, plans, and more.

You will feel the need to be responsible for your actions to this mentor, thus achieving accountability. Leading with accountability becomes a lot easier when you have someone guiding you and expecting you to do your best.

Gather Feedback From Those You Lead

Worried you are not leading to the best of your capabilities but have no idea where to start? Ask for feedback from the people you lead. 

Let them know you are looking for honest feedback with no consequences. Or you can make it anonymous so people are not afraid to speak up.

Feedback can help you adjust your goals. It can show areas where you are succeeding and areas where you are lacking, providing opportunities for improvement. Feedback can also help you prepare for future projects and other leadership tasks.

Asking for feedback shows employees your dedication to improving and owning up to mistakes, which builds trust. Leading with accountability encourages your team to do the same, promoting an environment where everyone strives to be their best.

Accept Failures And Victories

If you celebrate victories, you need to acknowledge failures as well. Do not try to hide the bad. Most leaders do this because they do not want to be seen as failures by the people they lead. But that should not be the case.

Acknowledge your failures and work on improving or rectifying the issue. Accepting your failures demonstrates honesty in your work, promotes fairness, and encourages others to be accountable.

Leading with accountability means showing vulnerability, which, despite what many people think, increases trust with your team. Your people will respect you more for your honesty and willingness to improve.

Invest In Leadership Development 

Finally, accountability is a continuous process. If there are some skills you are lacking or need improving to be a better leader, invest in improving them. It demonstrates that you acknowledge your shortcomings and are willing to grow.

Leading with accountability means committing to your own development as much as you commit to your team’s. Investing in personal growth is always worth it. It will make you a better leader who can adapt to new challenges.

By continuously learning and growing, you set a powerful example and keep your leadership skills sharp. This investment not only benefits you but also inspires your team to pursue their own growth and development.

Leadership Accountability: Good for You, Great for Them

Accountability is not about weakness.

It is strength.

It shows you are dedicated to improving and do not see yourself as being all high and mighty. Leading with accountability means you are a down-to-earth leader who is always ready to take responsibility.

This mindset is good for you as a person because it helps you grow and become better each day. But the impact goes deeper than that. It also has a profound effect on your team.

When you practice leading with accountability, you create a culture where everyone feels safe to admit mistakes and learn from them. It builds a team full of honest and hardworking individuals.

In a way, you are raising future leaders who value integrity and responsibility. Your dedication to accountability will inspire others to follow in your footsteps, making your entire organization stronger.

So, remember, leading with accountability is not just great for you but fantastic for your team.