Tag Archives: initiative

Taking and Giving Accountability

When you are expected to make and standby either a decision or ensure an activity is completed to everyone’s satisfaction you are accountable.

Accountability is the condition of being accountable and it is either taken on (by choice) or given to you.  When assigned you may technically have the choice to accept or decline but in reality, this is not always the case.

Self Motivted

Choosing to take accountability, whether for your own actions or those of others ultimately you are the one making the decision or ensuring the successful completion of an action.

Taking accountability without being assigned or requested to do so is a leading indicator of a high level of initiative.   Typically this is recognized as a positive behavior although it needs to be balanced so as not to appear arrogant or authoritarian.

Self-motivation is a critical attribute for high performing groups.   Whether it be a Corporate, non-profit or even a family context when members take the accountability to make sure decisions are made and activities completed the outcomes are easier to achieve and of a higher quality.

Encouraging Initiative

Sometimes it is difficult to let others take accountability.  Our natural tendencies are for control and to take charge.  Allowing others to take accountability, particularly when we are in a leadership role can be difficult.

There is a risk, but it is a risk well worth taking.  The greatest way to motivate others to take accountability is quite simple, let them do it. The key here is making sure the culture is clear,  everyone is empowered.

Self Motivated

If one of your go to behaviours includes being  motivated to act simply based on your own enthusiasm toward getting things accomplished, you are self motivated.

In essence this means you would typically  be demonstrating  a high level of initiative, that is the ability to assess and start things independently.

Self Managing

Leaders seek people to join their groups who both act without being asked or told (initiative) but also can self manage, that is being fully responsible for thier actions.

Peoples behaviour will always create an  impact and without acknowledging and accepting responsibility for that impact (i.e., outcomes) of your behaviour there is a higher risk of bad behaviour (i.e.,  you don’t worry about the results, it is someone elses responsibility).

Initiative alone, without self management, can produce unexpected and even unwanted results.

Oversight

Demonstrated initiate coupled with satisfactory self management can result in a high performing team or group.  The hands off style of leadership can be very effective with these teams, and micro-managing can be detrimental.

The teams productivity is high because the work self motivation typically results in a high level of personal satifaction by those that practice it.

One failing I often see with hands off management of highly motivated groups is the mistaken belief that given the skills and abilities of the group members oversite is not needed or can be a minimal levels.

Granted one of the benefits of self motivated, self managed teams is that direct oversight is not needed.   This does not mean leaders and mangers do not need to be well informed.