Accountability is one of the primary driving forces in all businesses. It stretches from the CEO, right down to the newest employee. When we are held accountable, we are more motivated to complete tasks and complete them in the right way.

When our actions have consequences that not only affect us, but those around us, we are far more inclined to work on these tasks in a positive manner and proceed as directed.

Studies have even suggested that, accountability is one if not the primary factor which enables us to complete a task.

When this is translated into the workplace it can have incredibly positive results for our business and team development.

As a business owner, it is your responsibility to hold others accountable as employee efficiency and actions are what drive your business forward.

Without a clear vision and direction on responsibilities, you place your employees in jeopardy and leave them floating in the ocean without a clear way to land.

For any business to succeed it is important to have accountability throughout the business and business owners must develop accountability structures.

Let’s delve into how you can foster accountability in your business and yourself.

Accountability for Your Business:

• Develop Business Goals and Objectives
• Measure Progress
• Provide Feedback
• What are the Consequences?
• Allow for Individuality

Develop Business Goals and Objectives:

If your employees don’t know the direction of your company or what they are trying to achieve in their role, they will struggle to meet non-existent targets.

As a business owner, you must define your employees role, direction and targets.

Provide them with a timeframe to reach certain goals and KPIs within your business.

When employees know their role and defined targets, they can develop strategies to achieve these goals and are held accountable for achieving or failing to reach these milestones.

Measure Progress:

Have a system in place that allows you to measure employee performance. A set system will ensure you can actively track progress and view areas of improvement.

Measuring progress also shows your employees what areas are the most important for them and your business.

KPIs within your business help define roles better.

They open up areas of discussion on how best to meet these goals, fostering greater accountability and communication between team members.

If there are areas for improvement, having a reference will help employees see where they can improve.

Provide Regular Feedback:

Set a time to provide feedback to your employees. This accounts for both good and bad feedback.

Guidance through feedback on a semi-regular basis will hold employees accountable and help them define the areas they need to improve upon and in which they are succeeding.

Ensure it is not overly critical or too frequent, however, if employees feel they are being constantly monitored it will adversely affect their performance.

It’s important to develop trust while highlighting both good and bad aspects of employee performance.

What are the Consequences for our Actions?

Your employees must understand that there are rewards and consequences for their performance.

Career progression, salary boosts and internal awards etc. are all great ways to motivate your employees to reach certain goals.

Incentives are additional motivating factors that foster greater accountability and understanding of your business process.

On the other hand, their must be consequences for failing in certain tasks and roles.

Without any consequences, there is no reason for performance to improve and it will simply stagnate.

It may take a while to understand and develop these areas but starting to develop these while your business proceeds are important.

Allow for Individuality:

Your business will have several roles with similar KPIs and tasks to fulfil. It’s important to remember that each of your employees will have a different way to meet your expectations.

While you must have defined goals it’s important to allow for individuality in meeting certain requirements. A rigid structure does not allow for flexibility in the workplace and can put unneeded pressure on employees.

Performance can be evaluated in several ways, so allow employees to reach their business goals without micromanaging each facet of how they achieve their goals.

Accountability as a Business Owner:

• Know Your Wider Goals
• Set Goals and Track Progress
• Reward Yourself
• Surround Yourself with the Right People
• Get an Accountability Partner

As business owners, we are constantly learning and evolving to reach our business goals and vision, something which might also change over time.

With that being said fostering accountability for ourselves and our work only contributes to our success.

As we develop accountability in the workplace it must first start with us. Here are several ways you, as a business owner can develop accountability for yourself.

Why We Need to be Held Accountable:

As business owners, we must lead from the front. If our employees are being held accountable it is only fair that it starts with us.

How does one become more accountable when they are acting alone?

Knowing the wider goals of your business:

While employees will know and understand their role in the business and how to achieve results, you must know why your business exists.

• What is the grand vision for your business?
• What do you need to do to achieve these goals?

Though your vision and business plans may change and develop over time, if you know the direction you want to take your business, it is easier to transmit this to employees.

It is also much easier to hold yourself accountable when you know the direction and actions you must take for your business.

Set Goals and Track Progress:

Just as your employees have KPIs to meet, you must have the same.

What are you aiming to achieve this quarter? This year? & in the next 5 years?

Knowing what tasks you have to complete to progress to the next stage, helps define your goals and path to success.

Right down your goals and tasks and break these down into manageable actions.

Perhaps there is something you can do daily, weekly or monthly to work towards your overall strategy for success.

Recording tasks and their completion will help you develop further accountability for yourself.

Reward Yourself:

Just as you would reward your employees for successful negotiations, purchases and KPI setting, it’s important to reward yourself once certain goals have been achieved.

Without acknowledging our accomplishments, it is very difficult to see the reasons behind our actions.

When your business reaches a certain milestone, treat yourself.

After all, it is you and your team that have got the business here.

Something worthwhile such as a small purchase or meal etc allows us to pause and appreciate our company’s progress.

Surround Yourself with the Right People:

Being a business owner can be a lonely road. But it does not have to be.

Join masterminds, local business groups or online chatrooms with people in a similar position to yourself.

You can use these people as soundboards, develop strategies that you may have overlooked, engage with an accountability partner etc.

While friends and family may be able to assist in certain areas having an experienced outside perspective can do wonders for your mind, business development, strategy, and accountability.

People we know and love may not be able to tell us the hard truths sometime.

Masterminds and surrounding yourself with like-minded people might just be the very push that you need.

Get An Accountability Partner:

One of the most suitable recommendations and the one that will allow you to unlock the most is through the use of an accountability partner.

Soundboards for ideas, task reminders and record keepers all in one, are what you will find within an accountability partner.

A partner within your inner circle or a business coach will be able to offer guidance and recommendations and hold you accountable for your actions.

They take the position that you hold for your employees.

Accountability partners can show you different methods to achieve your goals, allow you to aim higher than before and offer support when it is most needed.

Ensure your accountability partner has the experience, insider knowledge and growth mindset that you need for your business.

4growth.ie offers business coaching and accountability to business owners and managers.

We look both inwards and outwards from your business to see areas of improvement.

We offer guidance, the development of business plans and set actionable goals that you can achieve.

You will be motivated, tasked with deadlines and shown how to achieve the goals and vision of your business.