IT leaders striving to create a Culture of Accountability—where people take accountability for effectively collaborating with others both inside and outside the organization to overcome obstacles, find viable solutions, and achieve desired results—face enormous challenges. Why? Because most IT projects overrun budgets, miss deadlines, and deliver less than the desired results. Consider the following example of one IT department that beat the odds:
The CTO of a leading beauty and skin care company was charged with implementing a new inventory accounting system that would require major changes in the organization’s IT systems worldwide. After several months, the project was struggling to show meaningful progress. It was at that point that the CTO brought us in to take his entire IT department through both the Self Track and Culture Track training to support implementation of the new inventory system. Within a matter of weeks, we were able to help the IT leadership team create new accountability and alignment around the key objective: successful implementation of the new inventory system delivered on time and under budget. In the end, changes to the company’s IT systems and implementation of the new system were completed in a manner that met this key objective.
Partners In Leadership’s training helps IT leadership teams create a workplace culture that reinforces the way people need to think and act, at every level, in order to achieve desired results that drive organizational growth and development. To learn more about how to create an IT culture that positively impacts the bottom line, we invite you to join the Accountability Community at www.ozprinciple.com, where you can review actual client case studies.
Self Track and Culture Track are trademarks of Partners In Leadership Inc. Culture of Accountability and Accountability Community are registered trademarks of Partners In Leadership Inc.
In a recent proprietary survey on producing successful culture change in organizations, two-thirds of those surveyed responded that executive team development and alignment were critical to implementing successful change. Ensuring that executives effectively communicate and collaborate as a team is essential to the success of any organizational initiative. Consider the following story:
In the face of declining demands and growing competition, the senior leadership team of a well-known manufacturing company spent two days at an off-site location creating alignment around clear results. Excuse making, finger pointing, and feelings of victimization were running rampant in the organization because of economic conditions “outside their control.” The senior team had to define a set of key results for the upcoming year that would not only encourage new levels of accountability and alignment but also show positive signs of success. The two-day retreat turned out to be a exhausting experience as the senior leaders struggled to identify key results they could genuinely take ownership of and commitment to. In the end, they identified three key results that all of them could embrace and pledge to delivering—an increase in market share, a decrease in operating costs, and an improvement in customer satisfaction. The heightened concentration and collaboration among the senior team brought galvanizing focus and energy to the entire organization. Six months later, the company has become well on its way toward achieving the key results and turning around the organization’s victim cycle.
Building a strong and effective organization begins with aligning senior leadership teams around key results that the organization must deliver. Partners In Leadership’s Executive Team Alignment process creates a collaborative team environment that empowers the leadership team to lead in a way that is compelling and motivating. People will always respond to leaders who lead effectively together.
To learn more about how Partners In Leadership’s training and executive coaching process have helped executive teams achieve even greater impact on the bottom line, we invite you to join the Accountability Community at www.ozprinciple.com, where you can review actual client case studies that illustrate the impact of aligned senior teams.
Accountability Community is a registered trademark of Partners In Leadership Inc.
Without high levels of personal accountability, organizational execution becomes not only daunting but also very disappointing. In fact, lack of personal investment, ownership, and commitment always leads to some level of failure. Consider the following example of a large consumer products company, we’ll refer to as Bratton Enterprises.
As a result of current economic conditions, many of Bratton’s managers and leaders failed to execute on their plans. Citing a number of “Uncontrollable” variables, these managers and leaders have become victims of circumstance, stuck Below The Line. When confronted with their lack of performance, they spend more time explaining and justifying current positions than analyzing and recommending possible solutions. The result, a lack of confidence in their ability to execute—combined with increased micromanagement and centralized decision-making. Sound familiar?
It’s a common story. People, in general, are more willing to take accountability during good times than during tough times. Accordingly, those people who take accountability during tough times should become your building blocks for the future. When people take personal ownership for the success of their organizations, even in the worst of times, they inexorably tie their own performance to the performance of their organizations. The result is flawless execution, in good times and bad.
Accountability is the missing ingredient and essential element to consistent, sustainable execution. To learn more about how Partners In Leadership’s Training and Consulting Services can help you improve and strengthen execution in your organization, we invite you to join the Accountability Community at www.ozprinciple.com, where you can review actual client case studies that illustrate the impact of greater levels of accountability on organizational execution and implementation.
Below The Line and Accountability Community are registered trademarks of Partners In Leadership Inc.
