What’s Different: A New Approach to an Old Problem

How do we deliver?

The Outcome

Accountability

Accountability Agreements, Report Cards and Sideways Management: 3 tools that can implant “next level” executive work into your organization in quick order. Accountability builds relationships that get results – Klatt, et al.
Accountability (1998)

What’s Different: A New Approach to an Old Problem

Everyone loves to talk about accountability but it’s one of those slippery concepts – easy to toss off in bar conversation, hard as hell to pin on a real person. In fact, people can be real evasive about accountability – probably because they sense it’s just another word calculated to hem them in, close off options and penalize them if they miss.

What if they found out accountability could be the gateway to freedom and latitude, to a fair deal for them that leadership was committed to. – and you? – what if you could cut down on the checking up and the instructing, the rerouting of messages intended for another executive member through you, just to gain more heft. This is a very promising structure to create that zappy team you deserve and they want.

How do we deliver?

Founded on the Accountability precepts, our work starts with the President or head and moves to the senior team. A short introduction to the conceptual underpinnings moves straight into initial construction of AA’s (Accountability Agreements) for all in the same room at the same time. Along the way, a paradigm shift is experienced: the team “gets” the difference between task lists and outcomes. But the full impact of the innovation comes with the rest of the work as members come to see that all are accountable and interdependent. The boss comes clean too in straightforward negotiations of consequences (positive and negative) of creating results. The whole negotiation takes place in live action with the whole group unless there is significant reason to take the issue off line.

The first session usually produces workable drafts, the second finishes up so that a full network of AA’s is in hand and the team is off on a new footing. Report cards are created so that reporting becomes real: it takes on an organized flavour, initiated and framed rather than helter skelter.

The Outcome

With AA’s in place, the chatter at the senior level quiets down. People are clear on what’s expected and also call each other on what is required without involving the President. The members have room and freedom to act within a framework. Reporting meetings (do you have those?) are orderly: conform to plan. The President moves to greater space and time to tackle the big picture issues facing the enterprise.

Sound good? Let’s do it!

Doug Bouey

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