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Engendering an Environment of Accountability: The Key to Leadership Success

Engender; I love this word. It means: to cause, to develop, to originate. As leaders, we engender amazing possibilities for our teams to grow and thrive. However, engendering an environment of accountability can be one of the most challenging things to cultivate.

Why Engendering an Environment of Accountability Starts with You

To cause and develop people to self-generate accountability begins with the leader being accountable for their own performance. It takes courage to reflect and ask yourself:

  • Are you at cause and developing yourself to be accountable?
  • Are you being accountable for your agreements related to your work relationships?
  • Are you being transparent when you are not going to keep your word?
  • Are you demonstrating the principles and values of your organization?
  • Are you letting people know what you expect from them?
  • How do you manage your word, and how do you keep it in existence for yourself?

This self-assessment is an opportunity to stop and look at your own leadership. What you may see missing can help you authentically engender an environment of accountability. As a leader, you must consistently empower yourself to be and act consistently with your word. When leaders do not act with integrity, it becomes harder to hold others to their word.

The Impact of Integrity on Engendering an Environment of Accountability

When your leadership lacks integrity, you may fool yourself into thinking that you can get away with it. However, there is always an impact on the people you lead. I have seen leaders undermine themselves when they don’t act consistently with the values they request to be honored by employees. People can become easily resigned about their leaders when they see breakdowns with integrity that are not acknowledged. Eventually, they begin to justify their own lack of integrity. They start to think, “If you, the leader, don’t act with integrity, why should I?” This lack of trust directly impacts people’s quality of life, their performance, and your organizational culture.

Building Trust: Why Leaders Must Live as Their Word

There are many polls suggesting that trusting leaders is at an all-time low. At Leaders Team, we stand for leaders living as their word. We believe that engendering an environment of accountability begins with leaders acting with integrity. Trust naturally follows when people see their leaders walk the talk.

Living as your word is not always comfortable because you won’t always keep your word as a leader. Learning to tell on yourself requires giving up the need to be admired and being vulnerable. It also creates space for others to take responsibility for their lack of integrity.

Empowering Your Team Through Accountability

When the people you are leading can count on you to act consistently with company values and the commitments you make, they can trust you when you call on them to be accountable for their performance. When you are in communication and responsible for executing your word, you can also be free and confident when holding others accountable.

Managing your own integrity as a self-generating behavior is the beginning of engendering an environment of accountability. We invite you to take yourself on!

THE PATH TO LEADERSHIP AWAITS. ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP?

At Leaders Team, we blend our disruptive expertise and mentoring to transform challenges into victories, paving the way for groundbreaking success. Our history of reinventing businesses across North America and Europe, including partnerships with organizations like Canada Brokerlink, Whirlpool, U.S. Air Force, and Hallmark Luxury Care Homes showcases our commitment to meeting and exceeding expectations.

Dive into a world where limitations are dismantled, and breakthrough results await. Whether you’re seeking to reshape your company’s culture, empower your team, or achieve unprecedented business outcomes, we’re here to guide you through every step.

Connect with us for a journey of transformation and empowerment. Reach out at general@leadersteam.com or schedule your complimentary consultation here. Together, let’s create a lasting impact and steer your organization towards a future filled with success and fulfillment. Visit our website to learn more about our services.