Sound Wisdom Blog
Accountability: The Antidote to Tough Times by Sam Silverstein
By now, it’s obvious that the global pandemic we are facing is a crisis unlike anything any of us have ever encountered. There is no longer any doubt about it: we are entering tough times. The two critical questions for leaders now are—how do we make sure our organizations survive these tough times, and how do we make sure we rebound quickly coming out of them? Those are two different things, but they are both connected to the same answer: accountability.
Accountability Means “It’s All of Us” in the Larger World by Sam Silverstein
The commitment I call “It’s all of us” has a certain distinctive “look and feel” whenever a true leader lives it and leads with it. There are lots of different words leaders can use in demonstrating their accountability to this commitment, and there are lots of different actions they can take, but every time this idea is put into practice as a leadership principle, it inspires people by sending a simple, powerful message via word and deed: “I don’t succeed unless you succeed…and I am totally committed to making sure that we all succeed together.”
Accountability Is Not Just for the Workplace by Sam Silverstein
I spend a lot of time talking to teams and leaders about what accountability looks like on the organizational level—in the workplace. But it’s just as important to take a close look at accountability in our relationships with people outside of the workplace. In fact, I believe true accountability always starts at the level of the individual, not the level of the organization.
Are You Accountable to Your Customers? by Sam Silverstein
If a company is more concerned with its immediate bottom line than it is with the customer’s best interests, that is a short-term decision, and a poor one. That company is maximizing a short-term profit in exchange for a long-term loss. When that company stops looking out for its customers, it might maximize its profits that month, that quarter, or maybe even that year—but there are going to be long-term problems down the line…and if the company ignores those problems for long enough, its survival will eventually be at stake!
Accountability Creates Sanctuary by Sam Silverstein
I run into a lot of leaders who mislead themselves—without realizing that’s what’s happening. Here’s how they do it. They say things like “My people aren’t creative—we need to get a creativity expert in here to talk to them.” Or: “My people aren’t great problem-solvers—they need to get better at problem-solving. Go find me a program that will help them improve their problem-solving.”
Accountability Is Impossible Without the Truth by Sam Silverstein
For a leader, there is no such thing as “kind of” telling the truth.
If you are a leader, you are either fulfilling your personal commitment to tell someone who is counting on you the truth or you aren’t fulfilling that commitment. If you aren’t, then accountability within the relationship and the organization you lead is impossible, because you’ve already failed to be accountable to your team coming out of the gate.
Two Questions That Support an Accountable Workplace Culture by Sam Silverstein
If you want to attract and hold on to the best people, redefine accountability in your organization.
I work with a lot of senior leaders of organizations. One of the major challenges these leaders frequently share with me is their difficulty in hiring and holding on to good people. They want talented people, and they don’t want those talented people going to the competition once they have been hired and trained! So they’ll ask me, “Sam, what’s the best way for me to win and hold on to the talented people that will keep our organization competitive?”