Not enough can be said about leaders and accountability. The two concepts should go hand in hand. But, sadly that does not happen often enough.
Unfortunately, accountability becomes an afterthought for most leaders today. They act however they want and make decisions without expectation of any sanctions. But, what would the world be like if there was better accountability among leaders?
First, it means that leaders would own up to responsibility for their actions. This means that they take the good, bad, and the ugly when it comes. They make sure to act responsibly with actions taken. It also means owning up to actions that go awry. With this focus, leaders could be accountable to themselves and those they serve.
Next, there would be an effort to be proactive. When a situation does not turn out as planned, great leaders take action! This means that they would not sit and wait for the circumstances to change. But, they move to rectify a situation. They create steps to mobilize and improve the overall situation.
Finally, leaders should implement better accountability measures for themselves and others. In this way, there are never any unrealized expectations. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm said that “We need, first of all, for there to be accountability, for there to be somebody who is responsible for enforcing standards and holding people’s feet to the fire.”
With all these steps and others put into place then there will eventually be better accountability among leaders.
Dawn McCoy, author of Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success
