4 Tips on Promoting Accountability in the Workplace

Is your business or organization struggling with accountability issues within your staff? If you are noticing problems with accountability, don’t worry, you’re not alone. It is common for companies to have accountability issues at some point down the line. When you do not address it and let it persist, it becomes a larger problem within your organization.

Promoting accountability in the workplace can be tricky, but it must be addressed and amended if you want your business and staff to grow. Follow these four tips, which are based on John G. Miller’s books, QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, Flipping the Switch: Unleash the Power of Personal Accountability, Outstanding! 47 Ways to Make Your Organization Exceptional, to make personal accountability a core value in your business.

Wolf Creek Business Growth Institute is dedicated to providing actionable advice to business owners to build their leadership skills and reach their business goals. If you notice issues with accountability within your staff and want to promote accountability in the workplace, contact our business coaches. They will provide expert insight to get you and your team the guidance you need to prioritize accountability in your organization.

[Related: Benefits of Leadership Training]

1. Stop the Blame Game Immediately

When something goes wrong in the workplace, whether a step in a project is done incorrectly, someone forgot a deadline, or a supervisor is late to an important meeting, we are quick to find someone or something to blame. Blaming causes harm in the workplace, and if you want to start promoting accountability in the workplace, the blame game needs to stop.

When we blame others, we spend less time and energy solving the problem or problems at hand. Nothing is fixed or changed when we try to find a culprit. Excuse-making also kills growth and problem solving as it allows people to avoid accountability by pointing the blame at something else. Promote accountability in the workplace by not seeking culprits and not making excuses.

If you are a manager, supervisor, business owner, CEO, or in any other leadership role, remind yourself that a leader blames no one – not even themselves. Leaders also need to stop accepting and making excuses. Ending the excuses and working toward a solution sooner will lead to a significant promotion of accountability in the workplace.

An excellent way for leaders to promote accountability in the workplace is to ask themselves, “what can I learn from this experience?” or “How can I work to solve the problem?” This accountability tip is relevant for all levels of staff. Constantly remind yourself to take proactive steps to improve and solve problems instead of being reactive, so the problems don’t keep occurring.

2. Engage in Healthy Thinking

Another tip for promoting accountability in the workplace is to start engaging in healthy thinking. Negative thinking can lead to a slippery slope of victim mentality, self-pity, and envy of your co-worker’s success and achievements. When negative thinking becomes your default way of thinking, you serve nobody – not even yourself. You hinder your ability to contribute and develop as a person when you engage in negative thinking.

If you don’t want this happening to you and want to start promoting accountability in the workplace, you need to learn to engage in healthy thinking. This is easier said than done, but you can start by repeating these things to yourself regularly:

• Sometimes, things are beyond my control, and that is okay.
• Success is based on choice, not chance.
• My decisions have led me to my destination.
• I am personally accountable for every choice I make.

Reminding yourself of these realities will promote healthy thinking, which will help promote accountability in the workplace as you are not letting negativity limit your potential and relationships with co-workers.

3. Focus on Self-Growth

When promoting accountability in the workplace, remind yourself that it can require time, and you cannot force others to be accountable. Personal accountability is just that – personal. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you will realize that problem solving, producing exceptional work, and reaching your goals will be all driven by introspection, humility, continued learning, and personal accountability.

Your achievements and success will not go unnoticed, and your associates will want to follow suit to achieve better results for themselves. By practicing self-growth, you will indirectly be promoting accountability in the workplace.

[Related: Tips to Increase Productivity in the Workplace]

4. Remember These Things When Promoting Accountability in the Workplace

When promoting accountability in the workplace, it is best to remember the following:

• Do not make exceptions for yourself when practicing accountability and ownership.
• Repeatedly ask yourself, “What can I learn from this experience?”
• Look inward instead of outward when solving issues.

These items are all essential to remember when promoting accountability in the workplace. If you blame others for a situation created by your actions while telling others that they should be accountable for theirs, you are making an exception for yourself. You need to take accountability for your actions because you are continuing the blame game and halting any personal progress if you are not.

A great rule of thumb when promoting accountability in the workplace is continually asking, “What can I learn from this experience?” Asking yourself this question not only stops the blame game but allows you to reflect and improve your decision-making, which will vastly enhance personal accountability.

Personal accountability is the key ingredient to building a stronger team dynamic. When everyone is accountable for their actions, trust is formed, and progress is made.

In some situations, it is best to take the initiative even when it is not expected of you, as you cannot always expect your teammates to follow through. Taking ownership and stepping up are superb ways to promote accountability in the workplace while also creating a stronger, more trusting team.

Contact Wolf Creek BGI for Professional Advice When Promoting Accountability in the Workplace

Part of Wolf Creek’s philosophy is practicing personal accountability and asking better questions to promote growth. When promoting accountability in the workplace, you should be asking yourself, “What can I do better?” and “What actions do I need to take to make a difference?” Reflect and think about what you can do better and what actions you need to take to make a difference in the workplace.

If you are struggling with promoting accountability in the workplace, or notice accountability issues within your staff, contact the business coaches at Wolf Creek BGI. They will analyze you and your team to give you actionable advice to start making accountability a priority. Call us today at 225-219-8866 when you need expert advice to begin promoting accountability in the workplace.