ACCOUNTABILITY 

A major problem today is a lack of accountability. Too many people duck for cover after making mistakes or when things go wrong.

      People leaders must define clearly what they mean by accountability. When delegating it is their job to explain the responsibilities for meeting the requirements of the tasks and how the results will be measured.

       Accountability relies on sound delegation and cannot exist without good accounting practices.

       Delegation means retaining overall control while ensuring that each employee is made accountable for realistic-specific objectives.

A handful of tips on ways to make people accountable for their work

* Define clearly the areas of responsibility and how they will be measured

       Delegate responsibility and authority to get things done efficiently. Always set an agreed time for action and completion and put a measurement clause in the deal.

* State the areas people will be responsible for in writing. There must be no misunderstandings!

      Discuss the areas of responsibility and answer questions. Make sure each employee fully accepts responsibilities for the tasks delegated to them.

* All employees must know who will be accountable for the outcome of each operation

      Good communication within an organisation is vital for success.

* Avoid overlapping

      Encourage people with shared tasks to form effective partnerships. To avoid confusion break down tasks into specific parts and name each person responsible for each part.

* Build a culture for success

      Reward success and praise good work. Never carry out a witch-hunt when things go wrong. Use it as a positive learning experience.

     Keep searching for ways to improve and ways to do things better.
The battle cry for any business should be;

“Performance, productivity and accountability”.
These are the three key elements of a successful business.

-Geoffrey Moss (mossassociates.co.nz)

“Accountability is the glue that binds commitment to results.”

Source, “Secrets for New Managers”. A collection of guidelines and helpful advice, First published by Moss Associates Ltd, New Zealand and Cengage Learning, Asia. Also available as an e-book from Amazon.com and VitalSource.