Yes, I am responsible.

How many times have your team said that to you?

Accountability is often a two-way street, meaning that you have to be willing to take responsibility for your actions and make amends when necessary. It also requires you to be open to feedback from others so that you can learn and grow.

When you foster a culture of accountability, your staff works together to find solutions to problems. Your employees deliver results and hold each other responsible for their actions.

When something falls through the cracks, learning from a mistake is infinitely more valuable than blaming the culprit; accountable workplace cultures help foster growth and improvement.

If you’ve struggled to create your own positive workplace culture, you can use this model to develop your enterprise’s ethos.

1. Hold yourself accountable

Many entrepreneurs forget they are the role model for accountability and do not evaluate their activities to ensure they consistently practice what they preach. Therefore, entrepreneurs need to hold themselves accountable before expecting accountability from their employees.

2. Set clear goals & objectives

Have clarity on the business direction towards the goals. Communicate the roadmap to all for them to see clearly how will we progress. When people are involved, they feel more accountable.

3. Align people's roles with expectations

Establish precise job descriptions and clear standards and expectations for employees. Make sure everyone is aware of the standards and expectations, and hold employees accountable for meeting them.

4. Avoid micromanaging. Set Deadlines instead.

Entrepreneurs should trust their employees and the teams that they have built. It is important to empower the teams to take ownership of tasks and make decisions. The best way to manage is to set deadlines and follow through consistently.

5. Create Dashboards, measure the impact

Record the goals, share them with all and review them regularly. Everyone needs to see the impact of their work towards the goal. Analysing the trend along the way is a good way for leaders to intervene and help course correct.

6. Align development, learning and growth.

Promote a culture of learning and growth. Mistakes are bound to happen, but it's how you learn from them that makes all the difference. Allow and encourage employees to openly discuss their failures and learn from each other.

7. Involve outside Business Coaches to hold you accountable

According to a study, people who committed to achieving a goal were 95% more likely to accomplish that goal if they also set up accountability meetings with someone as a business coach who can help them to keep an eye on their progress.

Creating a culture of accountability can be challenging, but it's definitely worth the effort. With these tips, you're well on your way to building a more productive and positive workplace.