The gap between accountability and personal responsibility

Caress the gap

Are you frustrated with your employees?  Are you angry with their work ethic?  Are you concerned your team isn't giving you 100 percent? 

No employee enters their place of work and thinks: “I want to do a crappy job.” If your employees are not living up to your expectations, it’s your fault.

When an employee does not do a job correctly, teach them. Don’t complain and moan about their work. Either your team member doesn’t understand your expectations or they can’t meet the expectations. 

If he or she cannot meet the expectations of the job, it is your responsibility as a business owner or manager to move that individual a different role or fire them. It sounds harsh, but you are doing a disservice to the person who cannot meet expectations.

When an employee falls short, show them the gap.  Take time to sit down, speak to them and share with them where they are not meeting expectations. 

If you are not satisfied, there is a gap between what you want and what they provide.  Show them the gap and demonstrate them exactly what you want to be done. 

When an employee fails to do the job, it is not their fault, but yours.  Own it, fix it and improve your business.

Accountability

You have five things that need to be done and they have idly remained on your to-do list for weeks, maybe months. 

They are not a priority, but need attention.

No matter the task, write it down – with your hand, not on a computer.

Under each task, write one item you can do today to move toward completion.  Set a date, a time and day that will allow you to complete the task. 

Unless you take a specific action, this task might never get done.  Either agree that the undertaking is not important, or get busy.

Personal responsibility

No matter your station in life, you are responsible for you, your life, your tasks and your legacy.

No person, place or thing can stand in your way.

If you don’t have enough time, it’s your fault.  If you want to change, you have to reprioritize your time. 

If something does not happen that you wish would happen, look in, not out.  Failure is personal. It’s you who controls your world.  Suck it up, push through the things that are preventing you from being all that you can be.