Learn how executive management can overcome team accountability challenges to ensure seamless project progress and success.

Empowering ownership is a lever for fostering accountability. Put the right people at the right position, set clear, ambitious, but realistic goals and then allow them to reach the targets in their own way - within the agreed framework. Of utmost importance: Don‘t micromanage. Micromanagement is a poison in so many different ways. Accountability on the other hand even has an important side effect: Team members will spend their budget as if it was their own money.

To tackle accountability issues and ensure project progress, I would start by sharing the company’s vision with the team, fostering transparency and aligning everyone with the mission. Engaging in open discussions to finalize goals helps create joint ownership. Empowering the team to innovate on the "How" fosters creativity and productivity. Implementing tracking tools like Jira ensures real-time progress updates and organization. Leading by example, I would actively participate and demonstrate efficient execution. Supporting the team through challenges and encouraging learning from failures cultivates a culture of trust and accountability. This holistic approach ensures seamless project progress and accountability.

Last updated on Jul 1, 2024

Your team is struggling with accountability. How can you ensure project progress isn't hindered?

When your team struggles with accountability, project progress can take a hit. As a leader, it's crucial to address this issue head-on to maintain momentum and achieve your goals. The key lies in understanding the root causes of accountability lapses and implementing strategies that foster a culture of responsibility. By empowering your team members, setting clear expectations, and maintaining open lines of communication, you can turn the tide and ensure that your projects stay on track. This article will guide you through practical steps to reinforce accountability and keep your projects moving forward.

Key takeaways from this article

Set clear expectations:

Defining roles and creating a roadmap with aligned deliverables and timelines helps prevent end-of-project panic. It fosters an environment where everyone knows their part, ensuring that the final rush doesn't lead to demotivation or a toxic workplace.
Foster transparency and ownership:

By sharing your vision and engaging your team in goal setting, you create a shared sense of purpose. Empower your team to decide on the "How" for tasks, which encourages creativity and a sense of ownership over project outcomes.

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1 Define Expectations

Clear expectations are the foundation of accountability. As a leader, you must articulate the roles and responsibilities of each team member explicitly. This involves setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives for every project. When expectations are well-defined, team members understand what's required of them and the standards they need to meet. Regularly revisiting these expectations ensures that everyone remains aligned with the project's goals and can be held accountable for their contributions.

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Swaroop Deshmukh

I resolve issues.
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this usually happens when you attempt to do everything and there is no defined role. need to ensure that the team has defined roadmap and deliverables aligned to timelines- just that they do not struggle at the end. this only leads to demotivation and toxicity.

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Shubbam Sharrma

Linkedin Top Retail Leadership Voice I Chief Business Officer @Ecommerce Platform I Ex-Cardekho, Management Consulting & Entrepreneurship into Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle I BW40U40
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To tackle accountability issues and ensure project progress, I would start by sharing the company’s vision with the team, fostering transparency and aligning everyone with the mission. Engaging in open discussions to finalize goals helps create joint ownership. Empowering the team to innovate on the "How" fosters creativity and productivity. Implementing tracking tools like Jira ensures real-time progress updates and organization. Leading by example, I would actively participate and demonstrate efficient execution. Supporting the team through challenges and encouraging learning from failures cultivates a culture of trust and accountability. This holistic approach ensures seamless project progress and accountability.

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Flavio Lima

Managing Director, Speaker | Strategy, Innovation, Risk Management, Governance
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Always begin by clearly defining expectations for each task. To achieve this, promote clear and objective communication. The concept of maturity should not be that of the commonplace of the mature individual, but rather an assessment of each individual's knowledge and willingness to complete each task. An individual is mature for a task when they understand how to do it and has the motivation to do so. By having well-defined expectations and assessing maturity for the task, you can then monitor progress and provide prompt feedback if any deviations occur. By communicating expectations, assessing maturity, and providing feedback when deviations arise, the level of team accountability will certainly be high.

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Luis Francisco Valladares Palma

CIO / Director Inteligencia Artificial & Tecnologías Emergentes
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Schedule a team meeting: Discuss the project's goals, deadlines, and individual responsibilities. Encourage open communication: Make sure everyone feels comfortable voicing concerns or roadblocks.

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2 Foster Communication

Effective communication is essential for accountability. Encourage your team to engage in open and honest dialogue about their tasks, challenges, and progress. Create an environment where feedback is welcomed and acted upon. This could involve regular team meetings, one-on-one check-ins, and the use of collaborative tools that keep everyone informed. When team members feel heard and supported, they are more likely to take ownership of their work and address issues proactively.

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3 Empower Ownership

Empowerment is a powerful motivator for accountability. Give your team the autonomy to make decisions within their scope of work. This trust can boost their confidence and commitment to the project. However, ensure that they have the resources and support they need to succeed. When individuals feel responsible for the outcomes of their decisions, they are more inclined to ensure those outcomes are positive.

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Harald Hamprecht

Vice President Communications & Member of the Executive Committee of Opel Automobile GmbH
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Empowering ownership is a lever for fostering accountability. Put the right people at the right position, set clear, ambitious, but realistic goals and then allow them to reach the targets in their own way - within the agreed framework. Of utmost importance: Don‘t micromanage. Micromanagement is a poison in so many different ways. Accountability on the other hand even has an important side effect: Team members will spend their budget as if it was their own money.

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Swaroop Deshmukh

I resolve issues.
Report contribution
just not authority rather responsibility as well, just not delegation rather enablement as well, just not PDF or portal rather clear defined communication is a KPI of you as a Leader. If a team struggles, it is rather your failure as a Leader.

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4 Monitor Progress

To maintain accountability, you must monitor project progress closely. Implement a system for tracking milestones and deliverables. This could involve project management software or regular progress reports. By keeping a close eye on the project's trajectory, you can quickly identify when things are off track and intervene before it's too late. Monitoring also provides tangible evidence of each team member's contribution, which is essential for accountability.

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Ignacio Polosa

LinkedIn Executive Management Top Voice. CFO Latam. Finance and tax planning Senior executive. M&A experience. Tech & AI fan.
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Conduct regular reviews of project progress and team performance. Identify what is working well and where improvements are needed. Use these insights to adjust processes and improve accountability.

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5 Provide Feedback

Feedback is a critical component of maintaining accountability. Regularly provide constructive feedback to your team members on their performance. Praise their successes and address areas where improvement is needed. This not only helps them grow professionally but also reinforces the importance of their role in the project's success. Ensure feedback is timely and specific, so it's clear how it relates to their responsibilities and goals.

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Swaroop Deshmukh

I resolve issues.
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avoid feedbacks based on conversations and preconceived notions. it rather be direct and self experienced, for that you need to spend more time with your team to know them so that the gossips and conversations do not block your judgements.

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6 Address Issues

When accountability issues arise, address them promptly. Ignoring problems only allows them to fester and potentially derail your project. Have frank discussions with team members who are not meeting expectations and work together to find solutions. Sometimes, additional training or resources may be necessary. Other times, it might involve revisiting and adjusting expectations. The key is to tackle issues head-on and with a solutions-oriented mindset.

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Alfonso Ríos Lobato

IT Director | Ex-Walmart | Ex-ABI | Certified Executive Coach | Technology Business Partner driving Digital Transformation
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Issues in any project are inevitable; what matters most is addressing them promptly and with a focused approach. Key to this is identifying the root cause swiftly, enabling the formulation of effective solutions and implementation plans. Projects are driven by people, so it’s crucial to recognize that issues can arise from factors such as motivation or purpose within the team. Maintaining high team morale and a sense of purpose is a hallmark of effective leadership. Leaders who prioritize keeping their teams motivated and aligned contribute significantly to project success.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Your team is struggling with accountability. How can you ensure project progress isn't hindered?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Define Expectations

2 Foster Communication

3 Empower Ownership

4 Monitor Progress

5 Provide Feedback

6 Address Issues

7 Here’s what else to consider

Executive Management

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Your team is struggling with accountability. How can you ensure project progress isn't hindered?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Define Expectations

2 Foster Communication

3 Empower Ownership

4 Monitor Progress

5 Provide Feedback

6 Address Issues

7 Here’s what else to consider

Executive Management

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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