In order for an organization to reach its highest level of performance, a culture of high trust must be present in the workplace. To achieve this, those around you should conduct themselves with integrity and honesty. If there is a lack of ownership culture, projects will not succeed or will face delays.
This article pieces together various ideas that teams and managers can use to promote a culture of ownership, self-sufficiency and improved performance across their organization.
Utilizing Work Time Trackers as Tools for Accountability
A reliable work time tracker plays an indispensable role in shaping workplace dynamics today, offering crucial insight into individual and team productivity. Businesses can utilize work time trackers to assess areas in which accountability may be lacking and implement targeted strategies to enhance it.
The Difference Between Taking Ownership and Being Accountable
Being accountable means taking responsibility for an outcome. At all times you must stick to your commitments while adhering to deadlines and budget. Furthermore, any time it becomes impossible to deliver what has been promised, you must communicate honestly and openly as part of being accountable.
By taking responsibility for failure as well as for success, you’re demonstrating an acknowledgment of the impact you’ve had on teammates. You will earn the respect of others, even if your team is not able to meet their expectations. You can now see how accountability and trust are closely related.
Being accountable tells others that you can be trusted to do what you say you are going to do—this is integrity in its purest form.
The Importance of Building a Culture of Ownership and Accountability in the Workplace
Employees who take ownership of their work demonstrate a greater level of commitment, not only to the tasks at hand but also to the overall health and success of the work environment. This sense of ownership leads them to make more thoughtful decisions and take proactive steps to ensure the success of their projects and achieve a more well-rounded and distinct work culture. In fact, according to research, a staggering 94% of executives and 88% of employees acknowledge the pivotal role that a distinct workplace culture plays in driving business success.
Furthermore, this mindset often makes employees more driven to find innovative solutions to enhance the quality of their work, further increasing its viability within your business. It will only continue to spread as your culture of ownership becomes stronger.
People who fail to take ownership are more likely to go through the motions without thinking much of what the result might be, simply doing what's required as though nothing matters in terms of results. Unfortunately, this mindset can quickly infect other members of your workforce if left to fester, and large portions could soon begin deteriorating into irrelevance.
The Correlation Between Ownership and Accountability to Trust in the Workplace
Trust between teammates stems from knowing they share similar goals as your own and from knowing everyone cares for each other equally. Delegation and proper task management help you understand whether there's trust within your workplace or not.
If you find that certain colleagues do not seem trustworthy when it comes to doing the right things and returning with results, trust can quickly decline, leading to poor productivity due to having to spend extra time following up on details you shouldn't need to monitor. You also become less inclined to take initiative due to fear of criticism for taking any initiative of your own.
Ownership and accountability build trust. And trust encourages employees to take ownership. When you are trusted, it reinforces accountability. You don't want that trust to be wasted by disappointing your team.
Paint a Picture of Success
Painting a picture of success is a key element in creating a culture of accountability and ownership. It sets clear expectations and defines the final goal.
It's not your job to tell employees where to go; they should decide that. You empower them by focusing on the final goal, not the journey. Employees who are given responsibilities are more likely to accept responsibility and perform well than those who receive tasks.
The Final Say
At its core, cultivating an organizational culture of accountability and ownership is critical to driving organizational success in today's challenging business environment. By encouraging strong leadership skills, setting clear goals and expectations, encouraging feedback mechanisms and leveraging tools such as time trackers, businesses can foster an environment in which accountability and ownership are highly prized qualities and valued throughout their operations.
