I had an audience member approach me after I exited the stage this past weekend. She asked a question I’ve never been asked before. She said, “You said poor accountability is primarily a leadership problem. How do I know if I am falling short in my own accountability?”
My first thought was, “If you are worried about that, you’re probably not falling short,” but she looked to be really sincere in her question. I mean, we all like to think that we are accountable, but sometimes we can be blinded by our own insecurities, busy schedules, and personal baggage. So, I gave her my best insights and things she could track for herself. I want to share three of them with you as well.
First, are you playing the blame game? Are you quick to point a finger at others? Doing so to steer attention away from your own shortcomings is not leadership, and it doesn’t gain you any loyalty from your employees or coworkers. Instead, take a step back and take ownership of your mistakes. That’s the only way we learn from them and grow.
Secondly, are you ignoring feedback? I certainly have worked with and counseled a leader or two who dodge their own feedback, thinking they already know it all. Too often, they end up dodging accountability as well. When we stop learning, we stop growing. So, open your mind and heart to constructive input. Chances are it will make you better at your job and a better leader as well.
Thirdly, is procrastination your best friend? If you find yourself parking for long periods in a procrastination station, you are not being accountable for how you should be managing your time. Whether it’s a project report, filing that needs to be done, or a difficult conversation you need to have, procrastinating does not make the task any easier. Break the task down, make a list, set some deadlines, and keep moving forward.
Accountability is the foundation of personal and professional growth, and it’s crucial to building trust in any relationship. If we don’t know when we are falling short, how can we expect those we lead to know when they are falling short? Next week I’ll have a few more indicators that you could be more accountable to yourself and others.
Read Lauren’s Whitepaper on The Nine Essentials of Significant Leadership.