Most leaders complain about lack of accountability
Almost every leader I coach says they wish their business team was more consistently high-performing and with higher levels of personal accountability.
Yep – check. Question is: What can leaders do about that?
When I start digging in about how good and consistent they are at giving performance enhancing feedback I get the usual responses:
“I could probably be better at that.”
“I know I need to do it more often.”
“I don’t think that I should have to do that — I work with high level people – they should know what to do.”
Giving feedback is one the most powerful ways to improve and reinforce right behaviors on your team
Sure people should know what to do and they probably do AND it’s the leader’s job to help their team stay focused on the right behaviors.
So get better and consistent at giving feedback. You want higher performance and accountability — it starts with you!
Stop making excuses for why you’re not doing it.
You need to learn HOW to give good feedback
The best feedback focuses on the attributes of the behaviors you want to see more often from your leaders.
Let’s do what we do in our coaching process and review some “game film” from a client scenario.
Danny is the sales manager of a large equipment company and just closed a long, difficult and large sale.
The CEO says “good job man — getting that sale!”
Or
CEO says, “Good job getting that sale! What I saw was how you used your tenacity and creativity to move through the obstacles the client brought up. Your determination will help us hit our financial goals as a company.”
Can you see how with feedback #2 Danny walks away not only with the “thank you” but also has a clearer picture of what the CEO values and wants more consistently from Danny as a key performer.
Danny will start taking more pride and personal responsibility for delivering those behaviors and be focused and connected to his strengths, tenacity and creativity.
Consistent and thoughtful feedback will produce more results and a stronger culture of accountability
Commit to delivering more consistent and focused feedback. Your team will have increased high-performance and accountability and you will be a happier leader!
Next week’s workout: How to Give the “Difficult” Performance Feedback
Pete Walsh is a demanding, courageous and playful Master Certified Coach in Phoenix, Arizona, and the founder of Peak Workout Business Coaching and the Family Business Performance Center. Check out Coach Pete’s free tools: the Family Business Landmine Detection Map and the Family Business Survival Kit.
