Engineering Accountability: A Leader's Guide to Fostering Engagement and Integrity

By Jayson Krause, Managing Director of Level 52 & Award-Winning Author of The Science Behind Success

Accountability is the lifeblood of a high-performing team. It's the invisible thread that weaves together individual efforts into a cohesive, productive whole. But the best leaders know that accountability isn't something you impose on people. It's something you create with them.

The first step in engineering accountability is to create context around why accountability matters. This involves communicating the importance of accountability to your team and helping them understand how it contributes to the team's overall success. When people understand the 'why' behind accountability, they are more likely to take ownership of their responsibilities rather than see it as something being ‘done to them’.

Next, forecast friction. This means anticipating potential obstacles and challenges that could hinder your team's performance. By identifying these potential roadblocks ahead of time, you can prepare your team to navigate them effectively, together.

Now, let's talk about relational integrity. This is the glue that holds accountability together. It's about building trust and respect within your team, and it's achieved through open communication, transparency, and fairness. When there is relational integrity, people feel valued and heard, which fosters a sense of accountability.

Accountability is also closely tied to engagement. Without accountability, engagement is impossible. When people are held accountable for their work, they feel a sense of ownership and pride in what they do. This leads to increased engagement and productivity.

An important frame to consider is that accountability is not about wielding the stick of termination. It's not about punishing those who don't meet expectations, but about collaborating to ensure everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals and learning along the way.

Engineering accountability is about more than just holding people accountable. It's about creating an environment where accountability is valued and nurtured as a collective. It's about doing the simple things that make a significant difference, like forecasting friction, creating context, fostering relational integrity, and promoting engagement.