Accountability — Everyone is watching

• Will listen to feedback and suggestions by co-workers and claim they will consider and implement into action, then proceed according to their own agenda and ignore the feedback and suggestions;
• Poor communication skills with co-workers e.g. slow to respond to emails but responds immediately to their boss’ messages/requests;
• Unable to take suggestions or receive constructive feedback;
• Condescending to those that report to them or ‘not in management’.

Imagine if one person exhibited all of these traits!  (I have witnessed it, so I know such a person exists). How would that make you feel as their co-worker?  As easy as it is to blame the individual for not exhibiting the ideal behaviours as a team player, I would argue that the real problem is the manager that continues to allow this to happen!

Everyone is watching!

I learned the following valuable lesson as a teacher: “everyone is watching”.  By letting one individual skirt the agreed upon acceptable behaviours, I quite literally had all 60 eyes – potentially more, if some are wearing glasses;) – looking directly at me questioning: “Well sir, what are you going to do about that?”.  This is a lesson quickly learned in a classroom, especially if one value’s their mental stability.  Once one individual is allowed to “get away” with something, others will instantly test you.  Herein lies the importance of setting boundaries and agreed up behaviours from the very start.

How does this apply to business?

This is a bit trickier to manage in business.  First off, you don’t have 30 people looking at you and the instant benefit of seeing their displeasure in the form of non-verbal communication.  For instance, if you’re 5 minutes into a lesson and students are yawning, putting their heads down or reaching for their phones… you know it’s time to ratchet up your game!  In a professional setting, you don’t have the same benefit as adults are much better at feigning interest compared to a 15-year old.  Having said this, although it may seem as though no one is paying attention – everyone is watching.

For instance:

• If anyone is getting away with bending/breaking/smashing the rules or not being accountable, as a leader or team member, you have the responsibility to appropriately call them on it:
• If you call them on it in front of the group…
  • Be careful, as this could backfire, you don’t want to damage relationship(s) by embarrassing people.
• If you pull them aside…
  • Be sure you let the rest of the group know that you are managing the situation:
    • This allows the individual to save face, but still let the group know that the individual isn’t “getting away with it”,
    • This will help you to manage “social inflammation” (more on this crucial topic on a future Blog)