Choice & Accountability: The Bedrock of Superior Performance
Choice & Accountability: The Bedrock of Superior Performance
Aristotle said courage is the primary human virtue. And the ultimate courage is to accept what philosopher Peter Koestenbaum calls life’s “dirty little secret”–that we are all free to choose. We are all free to decide what we desire, how we act, how we feel and who we are.
Many poor-to-moderate performers I see in organizations simply refuse to accept accountability for their job and career. Ask them what they want–besides more money–in their job or how satisfied they are with their current performance and they come up with fuzzy answers or none at all. This does not surprise me. If they were clear, they would have to admit to the choices they are making in their job.
Employees who refuse accountability cost our organizations a bundle. Precious time and energy shifts from productive work to holding on to the old ways, blaming other people or circumstances, doing unquestioningly whatever the boss wants, and avoiding confrontations or any risk.
(“Hey, why should I do anything extra? It won’t matter to them, anyway.”)
Furthermore, when you believe you have no control–that is, no choice–over your fate at work, you feel angry and resentful. Someone else, or perhaps fate itself, is calling the shots for you. This resentment gets expressed, usually through negative comments, barely satisfactory work and/ or withholding important information, ideas, effort and enthusiasm.
How can you take on personal accountability at work?
Here are three suggestions.
Individual accountability offers an extremely powerful leverage point for increasing human productivity, Embrace it. Challenge your people to as well. Think and act as if you are in business for yourself, with an open-ended contract with a single client (your employer). Watch your performance, confidence and impact soar as you live out the words of poet William Ernest Henley: “I am the master of my fate and the captain of my soul.”
Choice Accountability The Bedrock of Superior Performance - To learn more about this author, visit Ian Cook's Website.
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So, you want to be a success? And you want those who work for you to succeed? Then you might as well know the (bad ?) news. Successful, effective people are courageous people!
Aristotle said courage is the primary human virtue. And the ultimate courage is to accept what philosopher Peter Koestenbaum calls life’s “dirty little secret”–that we are all free to choose. We are all free to decide what we desire, how we act, how we feel and who we are.
Many poor-to-moderate performers I see in organizations simply refuse to accept accountability for their job and career. Ask them what they want–besides more money–in their job or how satisfied they are with their current performance and they come up with fuzzy answers or none at all. This does not surprise me. If they were clear, they would have to admit to the choices they are making in their job.
Employees who refuse accountability cost our organizations a bundle. Precious time and energy shifts from productive work to holding on to the old ways, blaming other people or circumstances, doing unquestioningly whatever the boss wants, and avoiding confrontations or any risk.
(“Hey, why should I do anything extra? It won’t matter to them, anyway.”)
Furthermore, when you believe you have no control–that is, no choice–over your fate at work, you feel angry and resentful. Someone else, or perhaps fate itself, is calling the shots for you. This resentment gets expressed, usually through negative comments, barely satisfactory work and/ or withholding important information, ideas, effort and enthusiasm.
How can you take on personal accountability at work?
Here are three suggestions.
- Identify all your “customers” and what they expect from you.
Your key customer is your boss. Don’t wait. Ask for his or her performance expectations for you. Approach other internal and external customers the same way. Check in periodically on how you are doing in their eyes. - Decide on the performance level you want to achieve.
Unless impossible, it should exceed others’ expectations. Verbally commit to deliver this performance to your “customers”. Stay focused on priorities that move you to these goals. - Where appropriate, own up to undelivered performance.
Don’t blame others. Solicit and be open to feedback from others. Thank them for their advice and learn from it. Focus on what you will do differently the next time.
Individual accountability offers an extremely powerful leverage point for increasing human productivity, Embrace it. Challenge your people to as well. Think and act as if you are in business for yourself, with an open-ended contract with a single client (your employer). Watch your performance, confidence and impact soar as you live out the words of poet William Ernest Henley: “I am the master of my fate and the captain of my soul.”
Choice Accountability The Bedrock of Superior Performance - To learn more about this author, visit Ian Cook's Website.
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George LudwigGeorge Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
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Linda RichardsonLinda Richardson is the Founder and Executive Chairwoman of Richardson, a global sales training and performance improvement company. As a recognized leader in the industry, she has won the coveted Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sales Excellence and she was identified by Training Industry, Inc. as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Training Professionals.” Ms. Richardson is credited with the movement to Consultative Selling and is the author of ten books on selling and sales management, including Sales Coaching — Making the Great Leap from Sales Manager to Sales Coach, and Stop Telling, Start Selling. She teaches sales and management at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton Executive Development Center. Linda is a frequent speaker at industry and client conferences, has been published extensively in industry and training journals, and has been featured in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Nation’s Business, Selling Power, Success, and The Conference Board Magazine. Learn more about Richardson's sales training and performance improvement solutions at http://www.richardson.com web - Visit Linda Richardson's Website |
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