Ram V Chary on Leadership and Personal Accountability

Ram V Chary: The Importance of Accountability in Leaders

Personal accountability defines true leaders. It is what Ram V Chary believes.

Leadership is undoubtedly a complex phenomenon. A good leader has several qualities in their arsenal, and personal accountability is certainly one of the most essential, yet often overlooked, skills. It involves taking responsibility for one's actions, decisions, and consequences, recognizing one's limitations, and being transparent about them.

But, personal accountability is not just about being responsible for oneself. It's also about holding others accountable for their actions and following appropriate consequences. In a world where finger-pointing and blaming others are the norm, it is refreshing to encounter leaders who own up to their mistakes and invite others to do the same. Personal accountability is a hard pill to swallow, but it is the hallmark of effective leadership.

One way Ram V Chary has learned to understand accountability is through the idea that accountability is about ownership. When you own something, you have both the responsibility and the power to make it happen. When you do not own something, you have neither the right nor the ability to make it happen.

Personal accountability is vital because, as a leader, you need to be the type of person who is more than willing to take ownership for success as much as possible. If your team members can't rely on you to own your part in things, then they won't feel confident in your ability to lead them. If your team doesn't feel confident in your ability to lead them, it might be almost impossible to get anything done, much less done well.

There are two great ways to encourage accountability in a workplace, says Ram V Chary.

First, be clear about your expectations. When you are clear about what you expect from someone, they are more likely to hold themselves accountable to those expectations. It can be done by setting deadlines, providing feedback, or creating checklists, among other things.

And second, establish a culture of accountability. You can't depend on everyone holding themselves accountable all the time. It's important to find ways to establish a culture of accountability in your organization, where it becomes socially acceptable for people to hold one another responsible, Ram V Chary adds.

Learn more about Ram V Chary’s thoughts on all things business by visiting this page.