Accountability in the workplace: It starts with your good example

When employees fail to take responsibility—when they make excuses, pin blame on others, and generally assume an attitude of “It’s not my fault!”—it’s your responsibility to do something about it. Your best strategy is to establish a culture of accountability up front so employees know they can’t rely on excuses. These are the elements you need to work on:

·        Goals. Include your staff in setting goals that will challenge their skills.

·        Collaboration. Design projects and goals to encourage cooperation, not competition, among your employees.

·        Progress. Keep track of employees’ progress, individually and as a team, and discuss it regularly.

·        Meetings. Get together with your employees to go over what you’re working on and explore ways people can help one another.

·        Accessibility. Get out of your office, and talk to as many of your employees as possible every day. Have a real open-door policy: Welcome employees and their questions instead of cutting them off when they approach.

·        Feedback. Tell employees what they’re doing right, and thank them for their work. Offer constructive criticism promptly; don’t let problems linger.

·        Recognition. Show appreciation for your employees’ work, and reward them appropriately. Rewards don’t have to be expensive, but they must be sincere.

·        Acceptance. Don’t bristle or get defensive when you’re criticized or questioned. Set the right tone for open communication.

All the success!

PM in the AM