Create Clarity before Asking for Accountability

Right now, I am working with two senior leadership teams right now that are dealing with different business challenges but encountering the same issue. Each has added new executives and is moving with a sense of urgency, yet there is confusion about who is responsible for what. The people involved are highly skilled and committed.

What is missing is a shared understanding of responsibilities, ownership and decision authority.

I have seen this at every level of an organization. When something does not get done, leaders naturally begin asking questions about communication, trust or accountability. Those may be legitimate concerns, but I have learned to look at something more fundamental first: Did we establish clear enough expectations for everyone to know what they are accountable for and what success looks like?

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