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Accountability

  • Claire Gray
  • Apr 3
  • 2 min read

Accountability gets a bad rap. People think it’s about blame, finger-pointing, or micromanagement. But true accountability is a privilege—it means someone trusts you to take ownership.


When most people hear the word accountability, they associate it with being called out, having to justify mistakes and feeling pressured to perform. I'm on a mission to shift that perception into a positive. Accountability is a privilege.


"Accountability isn’t about catching people when they fail. It’s about setting them up for success from the start."


When you feel that there is a lack of accountability, it is often an indication, as a leader, that you need to reflect on the 4Cs. The 4Cs of Accountability help leaders ensure their teams are set up for success—not failure.



The Four C’s of Accountability:


  • Capability – Does the person have the skills to succeed?

  • Clear Expectations – Have you explicitly defined success?

  • Checking In – Are you providing feedback along the way?

  • Communicating Outcomes – Did you positively REINFORCE the great work they did? Do they need to REDO the work to improve it? Do you need to RELEASE them from the work as they are not a good fit?


 When delegating a task, ask yourself:


  • Have I checked they have the capability to do what is expected?

  • Have I made the expectations clear? Do they know what success looks like?

  • Have I scheduled check-ins to track progress and provide feedback?


Check out our recent podcast, with Amy Edmondson on Learning Teams which talks about why accountability is so important.



Want to master the art of accountability? Join our Thriving Leaders Program starting on the 15th of May.




P.S. If you’d like to create an accountability culture within your organisation, here are some ways we can work together: 


  1. Workshops for your whole team on individual accountability.  

  2. Leadership development training focused on holding others accountable and creating a culture of accountability. 

  3. Keynote on the Art of Accountability. 

  4. Read Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently, you can purchase it here.


If you’d like to chat, please book some time in my calendar.




 
 
 

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