“Accountability” as a term and a process can seem like a vengeful approach to discipline, and of course sometimes it will be punitive. That said, without it, professional and personal practices can continue. This might not only interfere with your brand goals, but it can cause real harm on an individual level.
For instance, if someone in your office harasses certain members of staff, well, that cannot be permitted. A no-tolerance policy is essential, and this means making the responsible party accountable for their actions, escalating the disciplinary response so that they no longer work at your firm.
That said, accountability is not solely a punitive effort, but also a means by which to present credit in the right places, to enforce your policies that protect everyone, and also to make sure those who are tasked with responsibility prove they can wield it, and use that authority well. In this post, we’ll discuss why accountability is so important, and how exactly to improve it:
Accountability Will Promote Success In Your Firm
The fact that accountability guarantees success is one of the key reasons it is so crucial. Employees are more likely to take ownership of their job and work hard to achieve their goals and objectives when they are held accountable for their activities.
Better performance and outcomes for the team and the organization follow from this. Accountability also fosters a culture of respect and trust among team members since they are aware that they will be held to the same standards as their coworkers.
Also remember that accountability not only ensures people are punished if they have acted inappropriately, but that good work is given credit and merit is rewarded.
If You Stay Accountable, You Will Generate Responsible Employees
Accountability encourages responsibility, which is a further factor in how essential it is to utilize. Employees are more likely to take ownership of their job and be accountable for the results when they know they’re the ones who will be credited as the author of change or improvement, and that anyone who subverts that process, like a manager who doesn’t provide the correct resources, will be reprimanded appropriately.
This means that people don’t have to worry about other people doing their jobs as part of a team, as the appropriate reinforcement of your principles and policies will do that for them.
People Communicate More When Accountability Is Present
Accountability fosters responsibility and performance while also enhancing team communication. Employees are more inclined to share openly and honestly about their success and any difficulties they may be experiencing when they are held accountable for their decisions.
This isn’t about promoting fear or worry, but rather showcasing that they have to stand behind the decisions they make, and thus showing their reasoning is incentivized. This guarantees that everyone is working toward the same goals and objectives and promotes a culture of transparency.
For instance, if a manager can tell their team how, with the aid of Industrial Fire, new fire safety planning is liable to reduce evacuation times and ensure fires are reported more quickly, then staff don’t have to worry about being protected, accountability has made these protocols crystal clear.
With this in mind, you’re sure to see why accountability is so important, and how to improve it in your firm.
