A culture of accountability in the workplace starts, not with employees, but with the managers who lead them. Yet, few companies incorporate metrics in performance reviews that mandate an evaluation of this key business driver.

After successfully placing hundreds of people in various roles, across numerous industries, we’ve found certain consistent managerial patterns and leadership traits in managers who have that ability to get a team to become more accountable. Here are our top 10 tips for managers to help foster increased accountability from their employees:

1. Master the art of letting go. Team members can only grow when they embark upon new territory.  Teach them, show them the ropes, and then watch them soar.
2. Foster a learning environment. When people strive to learn new things, they are more likely to take on new responsibilities, and feel responsible for their successful outcomes.
3. Empower your team’s own problem-solving skills. It’s okay to provide guidance and support, but encourage your team to think for themselves – to try to come up with solutions rather than just identifying the problem.
4. Make people feel like they are contributing to the business. When an employee feels like his or her viewpoint and work matters to the company, it will matter more to him or her too.
5. Have your team walk with you. Does your team know what your vision is? Have they also bought into it? It is critical that your team feel like they are right on your heels, if not beside you, on your mission at work.
6. Recognize and reward initiative and great work. Need we say more?
7. Encourage your team to take calculated risks. Your team can’t grow if they become paralyzed at the thought of making mistakes. Give them guidance so they can make educated guesses in uncharted territory.
8. Expect more from your team, and believe in them. That’s when they will believe in themselves, and not want to let you down.
9. Delegate. Trust your team to take on new tasks so you can let go of some things and grow in other areas.
10. Be focused on results as one team, together. When you lead by example, your team will follow, and they will care for their work too.

Do you have any great tips of your own that have worked wonders with your team? If so, please share them with us in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!

Photo credit: 42-15239051 via photopin (license)