Accountability and Performance Management – Tip #1

Tip #1 for Raising Accountability in the workplace

In most X step programs the first step is always the most difficult, until you get to the next step of course. All steps in correcting any major life issue are tough steps because they involve lifestyle changes. This is true whether you are trying to quit smoking, lose weight, or what ever. The same is true with raising accountability in your work place. It involves lifestyle changes. YOU have to think and act differently. Thats right YOU. If YOU want to change the people around you, then YOU have to act differently. It all starts with YOU.

You have to act more accountable.
You have to act more responsible for your own actions.
You have to stop blaming others for your failures.
You have to stop accepting credit for other peoples accomplishments.
You have to stop making excuses.
You have to stop pointing fingers and placing blame.

You see its one of those leadership things – You can’t ask others to do something you yourself are not willing to do.

It is my experience that most corporate culture change initiatives fail because the leadership of the corporation expects for everyone else to change but see no reason for themselves to change. They fail to exhibit the leadership neccessary for the change to take place. The people below them see no change above and conclude, rather accurately I must say, that it cannot be that important to change because the compnay’s leaders are not changing.

Now from that statement you might conclude that the only way to change your organization’s culture and raise the level of accountability is for the CEO and all the top brass to change and beome more accountable. THat is not what I am saying at all. THe most effective culture change is one that starts with you, what ever your position in the company is. When you make a concious decsion to become more accountable for your actions you raise the bar for everyone around you. When you have become more accountable, it will be eveident to those around you. Then, you have the moral authority, to begin holding those around more accountable for their actions. Not just those that report to you, but your peers and your superiors as well. It does not take a huge corportate initiative, it takes one person determined to make changes, and willing to make those changes themselves, before they try to change others.