How can a leader build or promote a culture that supports accountability?

The best
leaders lead by example. The leader should set clear expectations for himself/herself and be
able to point to both qualitative and quantitative data to prove whether or not the expectations
are being met. The leader of a group should also operate openly and ethically so as not to hide
shortcomings. While no one is perfect, the leader should take responsibility for his or her
mistakes and provide ways to remedy these mistakes for future reference.

In a
group, a business leader promotes a culture of accountability by having clear expectations and
consequences for when those expectations are not being met. For many organizations, the
consequences are also tied to ways to remedy the situation rather than punish the employee. By
demonstrating ways that the expectation can be met, the leader can hold everyone accountable to
the same standard. Not only does this improve efficiency, it also improves group morale as it
does not appear as though the leader has favorites.