How Managers Can Raise the Bar of Accountability: Accountability and Success

Managers have a high level of accountability in the workplace. It is possible for them to raise the bar of accountability and is often an important part of their job description.

What is accountability?

Dictionary.com suggests that accountability is the “the state of being accountable, liable, or answerable.”

Everyone is accountable to someone, at one time or another. In a workplace, managers are accountable to their employers and employees are accountable to managers. For managers to raise the bar of accountability in the workplace is not always easy, depending upon the level of integrity and ethical standards in the workplace setting. A lot depends upon the accountability of the employer.

To raise the bar of accountability in the workplace entails understanding what accountability means in terms of a business and its potential for success.

Businessdictionary.com goes beyond the first definition of accountability suggesting it is “The obligation an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. It also includes the responsibility for money or other entrusted property.

How managers can raise the bar of accountability in the workplace includes the following:

Determining, establishing and maintaining moral and ethical standards:

When a manager is hired, he or she will see the level of integrity of his or her employer, as well as that of employees in a workplace environment. The manager is not accountable for the employer, but rather the employees. Lack of accountability on the part of employees may affect the manager, as well as his or her reputation.

When work ethics including accountability do not appear appropriate for a particular workplace, raising the bar may prove to be a determining factor in the success of a company or organization.

Setting an example of appropriate accountability:

An effective manager sets a good example of accountability for the employees who are under him or her. Ideally, this is compatible with the employer’s level of accountability.

Teaching accountability:

An effective manager begins to teach accountability to the employees for whom he or she is responsible. When this involves finances or company property, the accountability of each employee, as well as collective accountability is vital.

Assessment of accountability:

There are numerous ways a manager can assess employee accountability, including testing them in various ways. Group sessions will reveal the level of accountability of various employees. Because employees differ in many ways, their level of accountability may vary also.

Warnings and dismissal of non-accountable employees:

Warnings or dismissal of those who are not accountable in an appropriate manner, helps to eliminate many problems in the workplace. While this may upset other employees, it also leads to them examine their own level of integrity and accountability.

The accountability of everyone in a workplace can be an important factor that leads to the success of a company or organization. Their lack of accountability can lead to its downfall or failure. How managers deal with employee accountability and raise the bar is important.