Using OZ Wisdom to Drive a Culture of Leadership Accountability

The Basics The Four Aces The Language of Accountability OZ Accountability When Others Are Not Accountable Wisdom: Leadership Success Actions

What does accountability mean to you?

Personal Accountability is the willingness to accept responsibility for the outcomes and results expected of you: an obligation to account for your actions. It means that you answer to someone and that you are able to EXPLAIN your actions.

Accountable staff members ask for help BEFORE a crisis occurs. Accountable staff members take responsibility for projects and problems within their areas of responsibility.

What are the benefits of being accountable for your actions?

1.Set Clear Priorities 2.Have an Effective Execution Plan 3.Practice Effective Communication 4.Measure Performance Execution

1.Set Clear Priorities 2.Have an Effective Execution Plan 3.Practice Effective Communication 4.Measure Performance Execution What happens when you ignore the four aces?

An Ace in Action What other phrases can you use to ensure others understand what you have asked? 10 Check in Here’s what I need you to do.... I need it by.... And here are the guidelines.... Do you understand? Let’s make sure we are both on the same page. What did I ask you to do? Take notes during meetings Speaks in “specifics”

“Blame Game” Have you heard or said one of the phrases shown within the last month? It was another department-“I stay in my lane.” It wasn't my idea. My Coordinator doesn't….. My Boss interferes too much. It's Not my fault! It's not my job! What could I have done to make that situation better?

1. Ignore and Deny 2. It’s not my job 3. Finger-pointing 4. Acting confused 6. Wait and see 5. Covering your tail The Wisdom of Oz 6 Not-So-Good Signs

What techniques do you use to keep yourself from playing the blame game?

When all else fails, admit your guilt and blame your childhood! – Anonymous

Rethink for accountability. “My car wouldn’t start.”

Rethink for accountability. “I had to take a phone call.”

Rethink for accountability. “I was in a meeting.”

Imagine you have a team member who committed to completing a task by noon. It’s now one in the afternoon and you realize he hasn’t started working on what you agreed to. How would you address the situation?

Imagine you have a coworker who failed to prepare for a meeting. She then placed the blame on you for the missing material. How would you address the situation?

“Accountability: A personal choice to rise above one's circumstances and demonstrate the ownership necessary for achieving desired results – to See It, Own It, Solve It and Do It.” — Hickman, Smith, and Connors in The Oz Principle

The Wisdom of OZ  There is a thin line that separates success from failure.  Success is promoted by leaders who operate Above The Line ®.  Failure is promoted by leaders who operate Below The Line ®.

SEE IT OWN IT SOLVE IT DO IT IGNORE/DENY WAIT & SEE NOT MY JOB COVER MY TAIL ACT CONFUSED FINGER POINTING Accountable Leaders Get Results! Excuses Justify and Promote Failure

 Think and feel powerless  Avoid accountability  Blame others  Rationalize and rehearse excuses  Pretend not to know How Leaders Fall Below The Line ®

The Wisdom of OZ + You “What else can I do to keep this above the line and achieve the results we want?”

Commit to 4 Steps 26 See It. Own It Solve It. Do It. Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

4 Steps to Accountable Leadership Step 1: See it  Create a climate that welcomes feedback  Ask for it often  Consider differing views

4 Steps to Accountable Leadership Step 2: Own it  Avoid shifting responsibility or blame to others.  Step out of the victim mode.  Be a leader. Step up. Own it.

4 Steps to Accountable Leadership Step 3: Solve it  Don’t wallow in it; get moving  Learn from feedback and new information  Plan for the worst-case scenario

4 Steps to Accountable Leadership Step 4: Do it  Take full responsibility for your results— good, bad, or mediocre  Remain answerable for the progress you make toward results From The Oz Principle by authors Hickman, Smith, and Connors

The Wisdom of You  It’s not enough to say, “I take responsibility.”  Acknowledge your mistakes.  Define what you can do in the present and what you will do in the future.

The Wisdom of You “When someone accepts full responsibility, what is it they are now responsible for? Is it something they were not responsible for before?” —Philosopher’s Playground

 Satisfy my customer  Empower my people  Build and support good teams  Keep creating new and better  Maximize my effectiveness  Solve problems. Get results. How to Stay Above The Line ®

CASE STUDY The PTN Problem

Q: Do you work in a culture that accepts mediocrity and justifies failure? Hint: Do excuses outnumber successes?

When you are in charge you must provide: SupportEmpowermentFeedbackRecognition 37

Coach Your Team: Choose an “accountability buddy” to check in, discuss goals, and recognize milestones. 38

Coach Your Team: If the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long!

Coach Your Team: If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first!

Coach Your Team: If you have to eat a live frog, it does not pay to sit and look at it for a very long time!

Coach Your Team Check the box that describes you:  You make it happen!  You watch it happen.  You wonder what happened.  You never knew anything happened.

Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won't have time to make them all yourself. – Alfred Sheinwold 43

How can I best use my gifts, talents, and skills to support my department/plant?

How I can support the organization’s success? What information do I need to communicate? What can I do to develop myself? What can I do to change the results we are getting? How can I adapt to the changing world? 45 ALWAYS ASK YOURSELF QUESTIONS

1.How would your work and life change if you held yourself more accountable? 2.What one thing could you do immediately to hold yourself more accountable at work or in life?

Wisdom: Leadership Success Actions 1.Train everyone, often 2.Coach continuously, based on feedback 3.Ask above the line ® and below the line ® questions 4.Hold everyone accountable 5.Reward accountability–not mediocrity

“Accountability comes from the presence of trust and the absence of fear.” —Henry Browning

You can have results or excuses, but not both. Choose.

Putting It All Together  Don’t get stuck  Don’t blame others  Don’t wait for wizards to wave their magic wands  Don’t expect all of your problems to disappear Hickman, Craig; Smith, Tom; Connors, Roger ( ). The Oz Principle: Getting Results Through Individual and Organizational Accountability

Be Accountable!  See it  Own it  Solve it  Do it