4 Ways to Lead More Effectively With Accountability

As a leader, coaching employees -- especially those underperforming -- is often critical. Everyone seems to understand that being accountable is essential, but does anyone know what we're talking about?

A relatively straightforward template is defined by four elements -- identifiable outcome, evaluation, awareness, and social presence. We can use these elements to explain what we mean by accountability and what factors need to be in place for us even to measure it in the first place.

Let's dig into these elements to understand how they can better help you define and measure accountability, especially in leadership coaching.

1. Identifiable Outcome

The first element of accountability is to know what you are being held accountable for. You need to have an established set of goals that are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Another good way to understand if you have an identifiable outcome is to ask whether, if you brought in a third party, they would be able to immediately understand what the person being coached was being held accountable for. If it's murky, it's time to clear any misconceptions up.

2. Expectation of Evaluation

If someone is going to be held accountable, they need to expect someone to evaluate them on their progress toward their identifiable outcomes. This can be a sticking point in some cases. Maybe the person being coached doesn't like the idea that they will be evaluated. Let's say that your job description says that you need to be in the office by 9 a.m. You should expect someone to check on you to see if you are accountable for showing up at that time.

3. Awareness

One of my favorite definitions of integrity is what someone does when no one else is watching. But as a leader, you must be aware that you are constantly being watched to see if you are walking the walk and not just talking the talk. I've written before about how everything you do as a leader is monitored by those who work for you: whom you talk to, where you eat lunch, and when you leave the office. They want to see that you are living the standards you set for them and the rest of the organization.

4. Social Presence

The fourth element in establishing and understanding accountability is the need for social presence -- what we might call peer pressure. Sure, many of us have the innate capability to hold ourselves accountable to goals and objectives. But when it comes to keeping someone responsible in a business, that often means being willing to be accountable to those you work with. The same can be true when you're at home with your family. Having someone else to be accountable to can go a long way to helping motivate you toward fulfilling your personal goals.

Coaching Accountability

So, when you have an opportunity to coach someone on becoming more accountable, go deeper. Use these elements to help define what you mean and how you plan to describe it better in terms of identifiable goals, expectations of observation, awareness, and social presence.

If you can do this, you'll vastly increase your chances of coaching someone up to higher performance levels.

JIM SCHLECKSER

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