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5 C’s of Accountability

By Darren Finkelstein
By Darren Finkelstein

The Accountability Guy®

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Improving personal accountability and accepting responsibility for your actions will benefit you in various ways. You will improve not only as a person but also as a professional. You’ll contribute value wherever you go and feel more organized in your life.

The definition of accountability might seem very simple, but you must understand that accountability is more than just a definition or concept. You cannot apply it in your daily life if you are not ready to make it your habit. And, in order to make it your habit and become an accountable leader, you must know the basics- the 5 C’s of accountability.

5 C’s of accountability provide a framework or a model that you can universally apply to gain excellent results.

Seems intriguing, right?

Let’s jump on the crucial details without delaying further.

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What Is the Concept of Accountability?

Accountability entails taking responsibility for your actions and ensuring that you do what you say you will do. So, taking personal responsibility for the situations in which you’ve been involved is known as personal accountability. 

One of the most crucial things a great leader does is hold people or themselves accountable for actions. It isn’t easy to do; being accountable takes bravery, but the results are pretty enticing. As a result, there is a desire among leaders to increase accountability.

Understand that a lack of accountability may permeate throughout a company, lowering production and destroying morale.

The 5 C’s of Accountability

Now that you know what accountability is and why is it crucial for business/team leaders, let’s get back to the basics. Here is the list of all the C’s of accountability along with a brief explanation for each, have a look-

Common Purpose

Connect what you want the team to do and why you want them to spend time on a specific task. What’s the goal of it all? What difference does it make? We have a tendency to tell a group of people what to do but forget to explain why.

Doing this will help you and your employees/team members understand the gravity of the situation or the importance of getting work done. It will also help them understand the consequences or repercussions if the expectations are not met timely. Once they know the importance, they will be able to streamline everything in a better way.

Clear Expectations

What do you want the team to accomplish in the end? What are the tasks that they are accountable for? These are the accountability questions that leaders should answer to their teams in order to establish clear expectations. You’ll need to tell the team over and over again so that everyone understands what’s required of them.

Make sure that you tell them the bit they are accountable for or the work that they have to do. Don’t explain others’ responsibilities in detail as it might confuse the team members, and they might lose the clarity of their goal.

Communicate and Align

Communication and alignment are the souls of any team because they promote long-term success.

Tell your team members how are they going to accomplish what you’ve asked of them. Help them with understanding what resources they might need to use.

You have to maintain everyone’s concentration and focus, particularly on their tasks. It is a leader’s responsibility as part of their leadership development to keep a team focused and aligned. Ensuring this will help in knowing that everyone is involved and moving in the same direction.

Coach and Collaborate

Understand that your job isn’t over after assigning the tasks to your team members; it isn’t just their responsibility. You have to be at their side all the time and coach them. Collaborate with them and help them solve all the problems.

Being a leader, you must know what roadblocks must be removed and how can you assist in their removal. Remember that if the task you’ve given your team is critical, it demands your support.

Consequences

Consequences should not always be intimidating. If you being a leader, know the consequences, then it isn’t necessary to scare your team members; you should instead discuss it with them appropriately.

Ask and answer more questions rather than giving statements. Talk to your team strategically rather than tactically. It will help you and your team maintain stability while knowing the repercussions.

Additionally, you must ensure that team members are not given attention only when something goes wrong. You have to bring them in the spotlight even when they do something good, appreciate them immediately, don’t wait for the weekly meeting.

Summing It Up!

Accountability is a necessary trait and requirement for every leader. You will notice a significant difference if you make your team and yourself more accountable.

Now that you know the 5 C’s of accountability get started with your action plan and be a good team leader.

All the best!