Leadership ethics and accountability are important concepts for effective leadership. In order to be a successful leader, it is essential to hold oneself to high ethical standards and be accountable for one’s actions and decisions. This involves being honest, transparent, and fair, and taking responsibility for the impact of one’s actions on others.
Accountability is built around expectations. It’s about being clear with everyone involved about what you expect from them and why. When people feel accountable for their actions, they take ownership of them and can easily fix mistakes they make.
This piece is the second part of a 5-part series to kickstart your journey to exceptional leadership in the new year. Stay tuned for practical tips on how to improve your leadership accountability.
Leadership Accountability In Practice
A good example of how leadership ethics and accountability can be demonstrated in the real world is through the story of former General Electric CEO, Jack Welch. Welch was known for his strong leadership style and his commitment to ethical standards. He believed that leaders should be transparent and accountable for their actions, and he held himself and his team to high ethical standards despite the challenges he faced in his time at the helm of affairs at GE.
For example, Welch made it a priority to communicate openly and honestly with his employees, and he was transparent about the company’s financial performance and business strategy – in good and bad times. He also made sure that everyone was held accountable for their actions, and that everyone was treated fairly and with respect.
Welch’s leadership style and commitment to ethical standards helped to build trust and credibility with his team, and contributed to the success of General Electric. However, it is important to note that even Welch faced challenges in maintaining these high ethical standards, and it takes consistent effort and commitment to do so.
Six Traits Of Accountable Leaders
To demonstrate a high sense of leadership accountability, there are several key traits of an accountable leader that you can adopt:
Set high ethical standards for yourself: As a leader, it is important to establish and adhere to a clear set of ethical standards. This includes honesty, transparency, fairness, and taking responsibility for your actions.
Communicate openly and honestly: One of the key ways to build trust and credibility with your team is through open and honest communication. This means being upfront about your intentions, and being transparent about the company’s performance and strategy.
Hold yourself and others accountable: As a leader, it is important to hold yourself and your team accountable for their actions. This means setting clear expectations, and holding everyone to the same standards.
Be a role model: As a leader, you are in a position of influence and your actions and behavior set the tone for the rest of the team. It is important to be a role model for ethical behavior, and to demonstrate these values in your daily actions.
Apologise and take responsibility when necessary: We all make mistakes, and it is important to admit when we are wrong and take responsibility for our actions. As a leader, this includes apologising when necessary and taking steps to improve the situation.
Self-reflection and self-awareness. It is essential for leaders to understand their own values and beliefs, and to regularly evaluate whether their actions align with those values. This self-reflection can be aided by seeking feedback from others and engaging in ongoing learning and development.
As you step into 2023, go in with a renewed sense of accountability, ask yourself the following questions to inspire even greater accountability:
What are your personal values and ethical standards?
How do you demonstrate leadership ethics and accountability in your current role?
In what areas could you improve in terms of leadership ethics and accountability?
How do you hold yourself and your team accountable for their actions and decisions?
In what ways can you create a culture of ethical behavior within your team or organisation?
You can make this year your most accomplished year ever, by following these and many simple tips for leading with accuntability.
