
Keeping people accountable is a must for leaders of fast moving businesses. But, chasing people for things that should already be completed is not for me. Here’s how I get consistent results from my team:
1. I make expectations crystal clear
- I describe the problem/challenge and what I’d like to be achieved in detail
- I ask others how they will tackle it
- I paraphrase the words they’ve used to clarify who will do what by when
- I ask the person to confirm who will do what by when
- I look the person in the eye and challenge them to over-deliver on the expectations
2. Inspect
- I set a reminder to inspect what has been delivered at the time it was promised
- If my expectations have been exceeded, I praise the specific performance and thank them for their help.
- If my expectations have not been exceeded, I make it very clear that I’m not impressed with the performance and I re-establish who will do what by when.
3. Repeat
- I repeat this same process with every task, every day
- Consistent results require consistent leadership.
Accountability increases many times over when expectations are crystal clear and success is always followed by praise. Consistent leadership and specific praise are the keys.