How To Build A Culture Of Organizational Accountability
Setting goals for your company, or on a smaller level, for your departments is simple enough. As a leader, you know what you want your organization to accomplish and the desired outcome. However, when it comes to achieving the goal, things can get murky with many moving parts, and each team member has a specific responsibility. So how do you ensure employees do their part to achieve the greater goal?
Building a culture of organizational accountability is about holding your team accountable for their roles and tasks that help accomplish the organization's goal.
What Is Accountability In The Workplace?
Accountability in the workplace is when each of your staff is clear on their roles, deliverables, and expectations. When a person is assigned a task, they need to be prepared to answer to the status of that task and update the leadership in the organization frequently. Keeping everyone updated allows transparency across departments and, more importantly, opens up the conversation about the obstacles in accomplishing tasks, if any.
Accountability is being responsible and having ownership over assigned deliverables.
Why Is Organizational Accountability Important?
Accountability in all categories of life is essential, and when it comes to your organization's accountability, it can determine its success and future.
Boost Team Morale
Accountability doesn't have to have a negative connotation to it. Being accountable allows leadership to showcase how well the business is doing and how all the staff's accomplishments played a part in it. When your team knows their role in the company is important and is helping complete the company's goals, it boosts morale and gives purpose to their jobs. They feel like a more powerful team.
Builds Trust
We all trust the individuals we've hired, but being able to speak openly about the status of tasks or issues allows your team to bond and feel trust in their leadership team and feel trusted by their peers.
Improves Employee Work Quality
No one does well with micromanaging, and it's exhausting for a leader to check in constantly. When an employee knows they are held accountable and will have to report on their work status, there tends to be a sense of pride associated with those tasks, and they are completed with higher quality. Having to answer to a task ensures the job is done thoughtfully and in a manner, an employee feels proud to speak to.
Boost Productivity
When each employee knows they are accountable for their deliverables, there is a boost in productivity to ensure the tasks are complete without being able to brush off a task or pass the torch to a colleague. Being able to help accomplish the company's goal feels good, and accountability can drive productivity.
How To Increase Accountability In The Workplace
You may be unsure where to begin when it comes to enforcing accountability in the workplace. So let's start with the basics of how you can increase accountability in your workplace.
Empower Your Team
Make sure your team knows how vital their specific role within the company is. No one likes to feel like just a number. Remind your staff they are a crucial part of meeting goals, there are growth opportunities within the business, and you are confident in their abilities to complete the tasks assigned.
Define Expectations
Confusion can lead to a lull in growth and goal meeting. Make sure the expectations set for your employees are clear and concise. You want everyone on your team to know precisely what is expected of them. Not only will it ensure items get completed, but it will also make everyone feel confident in their work.
Implement An Accountability Chart
Accountability charts are a great place to start if you need help easing into the world of accountability with your team. Allowing yourself to reference the chart will ensure everyone is on the same page.
Set Strong Goals
Goals shouldn't be so outrageous that everyone feels defeated before they begin. Setting solid and accomplishable goals will motivate your employees and leadership team to get things done. Being able to envision the goal is more likely to be reached.
Encourage Feedback
It's nice to have your voice heard, and that is especially true for your employees. First, ask them what is working and what isn't with their roles, expectations, and accountability. Then, when you learn more about the people in the organization, steps can be taken to provide an ideal workplace to see items to completion.
Have Clear Roles
Just as expectations have to be crystal clear, so do roles. Ensuring everyone understands their roles will leave less room for error in the form of items falling by the wayside or needing to be completed.
Develop A System For Rewards & Consequences
Get creative with rewarding employees who do a great job and accomplish their tasks. You can use monetary incentives, PTO, or even gift cards. Get to know the team in your organization so rewards feel personal and something desired. Consequences have to be made just as clear as the rewards. When goals are consistently not being met, things need to change. The team needs to know this too.
Provide Updates On Progress.
Make sure everyone knows where the organization stands on goals, tasks, etc. When others see how close or what more needs to be done to reach important goals it will motivate the staff to be more productive and feel empowered by how much has already been accomplished.
Align Development And Growth
Development and growth are also important to an organization and an individual career. Ensuring staff knows development and growth are attainable makes everyone work harder for the organization and themselves personally.
Organizational Accountability Benefits Everyone
A culture of accountability can be a manageable, relaxed atmosphere. When done correctly, staff feel empowered, meaningful, and accomplished in their roles and tasks instead of bogged down. If your company needs some assistance in implementing a strong accountability strategy, we can help. Contact us today and get started.