The common struggle in organizations that want accountability in their culture is “holding others accountable.” Often, the permission to do so really isn’t there. Or if it is, you can run into the “I won’t hold you accountable, if you won’t hold me accountable” mindset.

It can be disheartening after accountability education to find that everyone is waiting for everyone else to put the tools of accountability into practice. They include being clear up front by using the Clear Agreement tool so you can avoid conflict management later and the Looking Back Worksheet to debrief problems or errors in order to participate in proactive continuous learning. Who are often the last to “use the forms”? The leaders. The CEO, COO, CFO…any of the C’s. Why is that? Most of the time it is because in their mind they can pay their way out of it. “I paid for the training so they could be more accountable.” Or then there is the position defense “I should not have to manage my people through the use of forms and concrete, clear communication of expectations. I am not a manager.” But in truth, they often are and until they get that the tools of accountability are most beneficially used top down it will be more attempts through programs to get accountability into the culture.

You cannot mandate accountability, you can only demonstrate it. If you are above using the tools yourself, don’t expect your investment in your organization to pay off in ways you cannot imagine. To be the one at the top to use the tools is rigorous, risky and rewarding. It takes a leader to do it. Thus, the dearth of leadership in our organizations. “Accountability is for them and if I can buy a program or training that doesn’t require anything of me, I’m all in.” Seems that the same goes for “ethics” training. If a leader is unethical, making a check mark in the box that says we did our ethics training for the year is ludicrous but so often enough for terrible practices to continue.

Calling all leaders, real ones, what is your take on your accountability personally and what is your expectation of yourself and others?