Everyone has heard the saying “You’re only as strong as your weakest team member”. There is so much truth in that statement, which is why fostering a culture of accountability is essential in developing teams that deliver results. A culture of accountability can transform an organization into a proactive, productive, and powerful force. In this blog, we will explore the power of accountability and how to excel your company’s success through culture.

Power of a Culture of Accountability

A culture of accountability empowers team members to take ownership of their actions and behaviors, seek and offer feedback, and are committed to being dependable for the betterment of the team. When your culture places a large emphasis on accountability, you’ll operate in a much more proactive environment and achieve your goals faster. Not only does a culture of accountability help your current teams operate more efficiently, but it also attracts talent that will spur innovation and propel your organization to even greater levels of success.

Productivity

Building a culture of accountability doesn’t just impact your team dynamics, it also significantly boosts your bottom line. In fact, teams with a strong sense of accountability outperform their peers by 4% in terms of productivity. It goes to show that when your team members feel that their contributions matter and have clear expectations, they are more willing to go above and beyond.

Clear Expectations and Goals

The foundation of a culture of accountability is setting clear expectations and goals. You’ll create a team of rockstars if you can communicate what they need to do and empower them to set ambitious goals. According to a study, employees who have well-defined objectives are 3.6 times more likely to be engaged at work. This engagement is a key driver of accountability, productivity, and employee satisfaction.

Foster Open Communication

Accountability thrives in an environment of open and honest communication. One way you can encourage transparent communication company-wide is by training your managers to say “I don’t know, but I will find out”. This statement will help your leaders avoid giving uninformed answers, and show their teams that it’s okay to do the same. A company can’t succeed if it only seeks and speaks about the positive news. As an organization, you should be talking about where you’ve fallen short and seek feedback to drive real growth.

Lead by Example

Leaders play a pivotal role in shaping a culture of accountability. When leaders take the initiative to demonstrate accountability in their actions and decisions, it sets the tone for the entire organization. As a leader, it’s incredibly important to acknowledge your own mistakes and take responsibility for them. This level of transparency and vulnerability will not only inspire your team members to act the same, but they will develop a deeper level of trust with you.

Recognize Your Teams

Your people should not go unnoticed. Recognize and reward team members who consistently demonstrate any of your company’s core values, specifically accountability. Your team members should know exactly what kind of behaviors warrant recognition and what your company stands for with your recognition program. A report from Gallup highlights that employees who receive regular recognition are 23.3% more likely to be engaged and productive. It’s important to ensure that your people feel that they are valued and respected at all levels. You can keep a pulse on your people by utilizing MindGoal to regularly assess the cultural health of your teams.

Continual Improvement

Building a culture of accountability is a constant effort. You can always find room for improvement and benefit from assessing your culture’s effectiveness within your teams. Seeking culture feedback from your team will help guide you to develop more relevant and intentional culture strategies. Be open to making adjustments and refinements as needed.

At MindGoal, we understand the importance of fostering a culture of accountability. That’s why our Culture Analytics solution helps organizations hold their teams accountable to their culture and core values. Ensure the happiest, healthiest, and most productive workforce by trying MindGoal today!

Contact our team of Culture Analysts to learn more about how we can leverage your culture to maximize performance and reduce turnover today.