From the Post: Leadership, War, Ethics, and Balance
Ethics, accountability, and responsibility are fundamental principles that overlap between leadership and independent contributors, creating a robust framework for strong teams. In both roles, ethics involves adhering to moral standards and ensuring fair treatment for all team members. Accountability means owning one’s actions and their consequences, whether making decisions as a leader or completing tasks as an independent contributor. Responsibility encompasses the duty to perform one’s role effectively, meet deadlines, and achieve objectives.
Looking at these three aspects, ethics, accountability, and responsibility identify the commonalities between your leadership and the performance of your staff or teams. Take some time to think and write down the common behaviors you currently find with your team in each of the three aspects. This will help you to identify where the current common ground exists and other areas you may not have seen before. Here are five ways to collaborate together to build a balanced team.
- Shared Values and Principles: Examine the core values and principles upheld by both leaders and independent contributors. Identifying common ethical standards, such as honesty, integrity, and fairness, can reveal the foundational beliefs that both roles prioritize.
- Performance Expectations: Compare the expectations for performance in both roles. Accountability often involves meeting set goals and standards, so identifying how both leaders and independent contributors are held accountable for their actions and results can highlight similarities.
- Decision-Making Processes: Analyze how decisions are made at different levels. Both leaders and independent contributors need to make ethical choices and take responsibility for their outcomes, showcasing a shared commitment to responsible decision-making.
- Feedback Mechanisms: Look at how feedback is given and received within the team. Constructive feedback and open communication about responsibilities and ethical behavior can demonstrate common practices that support accountability.
- Problem-Solving Approaches: Observe how both leaders and independent contributors approach and resolve problems. Identifying shared strategies for addressing challenges ethically and responsibly can highlight commonalities in their commitment to maintaining a positive and effective team dynamic.
When you find common ground with the people you work with or lead you can begin to establish or enhance a culture of honesty, trust, and openness. Look for the common behaviors between you and your staff or teams. Work on developing them and see what happens.
