Ways a Leader Can Improve Accountability in Workplace

Welcome to the second blog of my ‘Leadership Lesson’ series. Here, you will find more about the elements and in-depth knowledge about leadership skills. In the last blog, I talked about the efficient ways of solving problems by a leader.

Here, I will talk in detail about how to improve employee accountability in the workplace. Accountability is a major skill in the professional field, which is expected to be inherent in all employees. Those who consider themselves accountable for a result are generally the ones looked upon as potential future leaders.

How to Address Accountability as a Leader:

However, when these employees become leaders, they must perform a balancing act. They have to create an environment where employees hold themselves accountable for their actions while holding their past position. A crucial shift in the mindset can help improve accountability among the employees.

Romil Ramgarhia, Ex-COO of BARC, Talks about Accountability:

Below, I have discussed some key points with which you can improve accountability skills. You can follow these and apply them to your workplace as well.

• Face the Uncomfortable Situations: As a leader, you should not shy away from holding difficult conversations. Confront the difficulty with an open mind, using a non-confrontational tone. Talk with your employee in a way that acknowledges or focuses on their deed rather than blaming them. It is more dynamic to make the individual accountable for the work done.
• Get Hold of the Main Issue: Many find conversations regarding accountability and scolding for being the same. This is not at all true. As a leader, you should ensure that the session looks like an attempt to address an issue and improve employee behaviour. The conversation should uncover the root issue and attempt to fix the situation. It is often found that you need to change the system rather than change the people involved.
• Identify Your Leadership Style: Try to jot down the situations to handle the situation in a notebook. Think of examples to hold yourself or your team accountable for a certain situation. Do not forget to find out if there are any imbalances or inconsistencies present in your plans.

I feel that these points will be enough for you as a leader to make yourself or your team accountable for a certain situation. Try to keep calm in all situations and communicate clearly with the employees in your organisation. Being a leader, you should keep a voice that does not seem dominating or aggressive.

I will be back with the next and final blog of this series soon. All you need is to follow this space.