Accountability through Empowerment
To be held accountable, you need the authority to make decisions.
In some organizational cultures, individuals are held accountable for decisions made by others. This often involves managers making decisions and then delegating tasks to team members.
Consider these scenarios:
A tech lead mandates a specific architectural implementation for the team.
Senior management sets a deadline for completing a feature.
A manager assigns work to a team member who doesn't think it's the right task.
It is very hard to hold someone accountable for work they did not agree to.
It is very hard to hold someone accountable for work they did not plan.
It is very hard to hold someone accountable for decisions they did not make.
It is very hard to hold someone accountable for deadlines they did not agree to.
Accountability becomes difficult when people are held accountable for work they didn't agree to, didn't plan for, or didn't decide to do. It's also difficult to hold someone accountable for work they don't agree with, or when deadlines are imposed without agreement.
Holding Accountable for Decisions Made
As a manager, how do you navigate this dilemma when you're the decision maker? The key is to empower teams and individuals.
Involve your team: Always involve the people who do the work. Seek their opinions, involve them in decision making, and encourage them to evaluate tasks. Instead of imposing solutions, let them contribute ideas and be part of the decision-making process.
Employee Responsibility: As an employee, it is natural not to feel responsible for assigned tasks or disagreeable work. However, it's important to speak up early in the process. If you disagree, voice your concerns. Waiting until later reduces the chances of deflecting responsibility.
Empowerment Leads to Accountability
In the world of software development, empowerment and accountability go hand in hand. As a manager, make sure that decisions involve those who do the work. As an employee, take the initiative to speak up.
Ultimately, it's the empowerment of teams and individuals that paves the way for effective accountability.
What I read
This is separate section of this newsletter. I will list some of the best articles I read on the internet. They may or may not be related to the topic of this article. I will keep a list of the best articles (currently >700) at https://www.digital-product-management.com. These are today’s picks:
Power vs. Authority: Power is about having influence, while authority is about official decision-making rights.
How to ship fast: A set of principles for moving fast. Intended for a founder/leader audience.
Leadership Styles Every Manager Needs to Know: The most common leadership styles, broken down their advantages and drawbacks.