Many businesses have started to take a unique approach to managing teams and individuals with great results. This "accountability culture" brings out the best in employees by holding them accountable for each step of the process and holding entire teams accountable for the failure of even a single task.
While it seems counterproductive there have been proven results across businesses of all kinds, from large manufacturing facilities to small digital offices for websites. The tactics are sound and have a proven track record with companies of all sizes.
Why "Accountability" Should Not Be Considered a Bad Word
The very word "accountability" can be enough to send shivers down the spines of employees in any kind of business, let alone facilities where the employees are dealing with equipment that requires consistent maintenance. When a worker hears there will be accountability in the workplace they immediately assume it means somebody will hold the blame for a specific event.
The first step to building an accountability culture, one where employees and teams are honest about what steps they failed to complete, is to reinforce the positive aspects of accountability. Research has shown that the positive effect on the workplace environment significantly overshadows the negative stigma associated with accountability. Employees work better as a team, the accuracy of their work increases, they are more likely to co-operate and assist team members and they are more invested in the work they are doing.
Creating a Culture that Leads to Accountability
Communication is the biggest key to a successful culture. Employees need to have a clear idea of the expectations that will be placed on each member of a team and have a solid deadline in place they know they need to hit. Everybody in the facility needs to have an open line of communication with each other and it is imperative that management converses with the employees every step of the way so that all voices can be heard and any concerns expressed openly.
An accountability culture only works if the management is equally accountable for not creating an atmosphere where feedback is encouraged and concerns are taken seriously. Management needs to be made aware if crucial equipment requires maintenance and make sure work orders are handled promptly.
Where There is Accountability There Must Also Be Consequences
The very nature of holding an employee or a team accountable for an individual or project failure requires there to be consequences. This is where being a strong leader comes into play. Everybody is motivated in different ways, some work better with the threat of failure looming over their work while that same threat can have a negative effect on some employees. It is important as a manager to see how each employee responds and motivate them accordingly, while still maintaining that the consequences are real.
Creating this culture is a method of team management that has proven to be a very successful and profitable one as long as everybody from the top to the bottom remains accountable. This method creates a flow of communication between workers that is closed off in most businesses. Not every workplace will respond positively and it is important to know which management methods are most effective in each facility and know when to implement them.
