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There are two things that work together to great effect – Empowerment and Accountability.

Empowerment is giving people the tools and trust to make decisions and do their work according to their best judgment. It is helping them recognize their strengths and allowing them to function from those strengths.

Accountability is the flip side of that coin. With that power comes also responsibility. This is accountability. It includes accountability to others and to outcomes.

In other words, the adage is true: “To whom much is given, much is required.”

Empowerment + Accountability = Leadership

Out of Balance

When the equation falls out of balance, leadership fails.

Empowerment ≠ Leadership

With empowerment alone, you have a person who has power without the regulator of accountability.

These are the leaders whose egos outgrow their influence. It’s “their way or the highway,” as the saying goes. Their teams follow out of fear and dread, not out of respect and care.

Accountability ≠ Leadership

With accountability alone, you have a person who lacks confidence and the power to think and grow.

This is the person who will do what they are told but feel they lack the power to make improvements or to share ideas. They express an employee mindset but not an ownership mindset. They may be productive but not make the difference they otherwise could have made.

In Balance

Where there is Empowerment PLUS Accountability, there is a person with a true leadership mindset.

They take ownership and equip themselves for the work. They make solid decisions. They step out and take calculated risks. They proactively and continually learn and grow.

But they also do so with a sense of accountability. They know that their empowered actions have consequences. They factor this responsibility into their decision making. They ask others for their input. They weigh actions against goals. They prioritize.

An empowered and accountable leader has balance and great influence.

An empowered and accountable employee owns the outcome and takes great pride in their work.

Empowerment + Accountability = Leadership

For valuable resources on Leadership Strengths and Tools, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!