Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their very own.
Key Takeaways
- Accountability is only a buzzword except you possibly can really show how what you are promoting is turning into extra accountable.
- Actual accountability covers three teams: prospects, expertise and the general public. I created a scorecard that breaks into 10 yes-or-no questions throughout these three areas.
- A low rating isn’t a failure — it’s a roadmap for making modifications. Make any query you answered “no” to your precedence when transferring ahead.
Founders love to speak about accountability as a result of it makes them seem like accountable leaders. However except you possibly can particularly show how what you are promoting is turning into extra accountable, it’s only a buzzword.
What’s extra, unhealthy leaders usually cite accountability issues after they make selections that unnecessarily erode the liberty or privateness of their staff. Many a poisonous office tradition has been created by managers who determined they wanted to topic their groups to surveillance as a result of they didn’t belief them to be productive. The result’s practically at all times that folks change into extra burdened and fewer trusting at work. Anybody who thinks that’s good for productiveness simply isn’t taking part in with a full deck.
So how will you really maintain what you are promoting accountable, and the way do you confirm that your strategy is working? The identical method you’d confirm the success of every other undertaking: by choosing KPIs and monitoring them at common intervals.
I’m right here to share the scorecard I created to measure accountability at my firm, Roof Maxx. We promote a roof upkeep answer to increase asphalt shingle life, so the enterprise is structured as a supplier community — however don’t fear, this could additionally work for firms that rent salaried staff or contractors.
Every query you possibly can truthfully reply “sure” to is price some extent. Tally them up on the finish and see how accountable what you are promoting actually is.
Staying accountable to prospects
Your prospects are those who preserve you in enterprise, so it’s completely very important that you simply stay accountable to them. Ask your self every of the next questions:
- Is each promise that you simply make to your prospects enforceable, like a guaranty or assure?
- Do you persistently observe the typical time it takes to reply to a buyer inquiry or concern?
- When a buyer has an issue coated by a promise you’ve made, do you could have a clearly outlined course of for resolving it?
- Do you ever flip down a possible sale as a result of you realize your answer isn’t proper for the prospect?
Roof Maxx remedies include a guaranty guaranteeing that handled asphalt shingles will stay versatile for 5 years from the service date. If a buyer ever studies that their handled shingles are dropping flexibility through the guarantee interval, our sellers are educated to reply as rapidly as potential and doc the response — together with how lengthy it took — of their CRM. Then they assess the world and re-treat any shingles that want it.
Our evaluation course of additionally ensures that sellers solely ever advocate Roof Maxx to householders whose roofs are sturdy candidates for therapy. In the event that they genuinely don’t suppose Roof Maxx will assist, they counsel alternate options as a substitute in order that we will stay accountable to everybody we serve.
Staying accountable to your expertise
No one can run a enterprise alone. Whether or not your organization depends on companions, staff or contractors to hold out the majority of its operations, it is advisable ensure you’re accountable to those individuals as properly.
- Do you clearly outline what every particular person in your group is answerable for, and what you’re answerable for offering in return?
- Do you could have a system in place to present coaching or assist that helps your individuals succeed?
- When somebody underperforms, do you assessment your system to ensure they’d each alternative to satisfy expectations earlier than holding them accountable?
These questions are exactly why Roof Maxx has detailed agreements with every supplier in our community, which clearly stipulate the minimums they should meet with a view to proceed promoting our product. We decide these with every new supplier on a person foundation to make sure that the requirements we maintain them to are real looking and achievable within the context of their profession targets.
We additionally developed our personal supplier administration software program known as Roof Maxx Join to offer ongoing schooling and free sources to everybody who sells our product. This helps us standardize the coaching sellers obtain throughout all 50 states the place they function, and likewise makes it simpler for us to establish the place additional assist is required.
Staying accountable to the general public
Lastly, it’s essential to carry what you are promoting accountable to the world at giant — together with individuals who aren’t prospects, and even your competitors. Ask the next:
- Is each declare you make in your advertising and marketing correct? This one’s essential for compliance in addition to general model notion.
- Whenever you uncover misinformation about your model, do you appropriate the document?
- Do you could have a particular particular person at your organization personal the method of reviewing every part above frequently? You most likely don’t proper now, however it is best to after studying this.
What your rating means:
- 1-3: You’re utilizing accountability as a buzzword. The values you’ve described aren’t meaningfully displaying up in what you are promoting practices — a minimum of, not but.
- 2-6: Chances are you’ll be accountable to some events, however there are gaps. Typically, this seems like staying accountable to prospects whereas letting issues slide along with your companions or the general public. Be sure to’re extending your sense of obligation to all of those teams.
- 7-9: You’ve got a strong system — now preserve enhancing it! You may show a constant dedication to retaining your guarantees throughout most or all your inner and exterior relationships. Simply bear in mind: Accountability is ongoing work.
- An ideal 10: Are you positive? Are you able to truthfully say you could have nowhere to enhance right here? This might be a pink flag that you simply’re not being completely sincere with your self, so your work is lower out for you in that case. You may’t be accountable to others except you’re accountable to your self.
Fortuitously, the questions listed below are additionally your highway map for making modifications. Make any query you answered “no” to above your precedence when transferring ahead, and also you’ll discover it straightforward to carry your head up excessive in any very important relationship in your group.
Key Takeaways
- Accountability is only a buzzword except you possibly can really show how what you are promoting is turning into extra accountable.
- Actual accountability covers three teams: prospects, expertise and the general public. I created a scorecard that breaks into 10 yes-or-no questions throughout these three areas.
- A low rating isn’t a failure — it’s a roadmap for making modifications. Make any query you answered “no” to your precedence when transferring ahead.
Founders love to speak about accountability as a result of it makes them seem like accountable leaders. However except you possibly can particularly show how what you are promoting is turning into extra accountable, it’s only a buzzword.
What’s extra, unhealthy leaders usually cite accountability issues after they make selections that unnecessarily erode the liberty or privateness of their staff. Many a poisonous office tradition has been created by managers who determined they wanted to topic their groups to surveillance as a result of they didn’t belief them to be productive. The result’s practically at all times that folks change into extra burdened and fewer trusting at work. Anybody who thinks that’s good for productiveness simply isn’t taking part in with a full deck.
So how will you really maintain what you are promoting accountable, and the way do you confirm that your strategy is working? The identical method you’d confirm the success of every other undertaking: by choosing KPIs and monitoring them at common intervals.

