Generate a Culture of Accountability

The following blog is the ninth of 11 dedicated to providing an overview of the No-Nonsense Nurturer leader behaviors in anticipation of CT3’s summer leadership workshops. We hope to support all leaders with behaviors essential for every organization.

The No-Nonsense Nurturer® Leader:

1. 1. Models humility
   2. Sets high expectations
   3. Creates a culture of coaching
   4. Builds collective efficacy
   5. Recognizes and develops growth mindsets, always striving to be asset based
   6. Solicits voice and perspective
   7. Innovates
   8. Generates culture (and systems) of accountability
   9. Builds trusting relationships
   10. Commits to being an anti-racist

In this series, CT3 associates share personal stories or examples about how you can commit to each of these behaviors. 

Many people often say accountability — “an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions” (Merriam-Webster) — starts with you. But accountability as a No-Nonsense Nurturer leader begins with the leader, who must be consistent over time in demonstrating integrity in their own actions, which will in turn generate a culture of accountability and systems.  

Once the leader has gotten their personal accountability systems in place, it is now time to shift to the team. How do we do that?

1. Communicate roles and responsibilities for each team member as they relate to the goals. Give them the opportunity to provide feedback on what they expect and finalize agreed-upon next steps.  
2. Set clear benchmarks to regularly check progress toward goals with team members.
3. Create a data plan that allows for real-time data and transparent distribution to all stakeholders. 
4. Don’t shy away from uncomfortable data. Find trends in the data that revolve around race, gender, age, etc., and then confront them head on.
5. Check in with team members regularly to measure contributions and progress toward the goal and get feedback on what they need support with. 
6. Engage in difficult conversations when team members aren’t meeting expectations through a lens of care and support.

Open communication and set standards given right from the outset allow No-Nonsense Nurturer leaders to serve as role models for their entire team. When the entire team is held accountable, including the leader, problems can be solved and mistakes can be learned from, ensuring that stakeholders will reap the intended rewards. 

By Heidi Towne, Associate

Check out CT3 Education programs such as No-Nonsense Nurturer, Real Time Teacher Coaching, and Real Time Leadership Coaching to find out more about Professional Development for Teachers and Leaders, classroom management strategies, and building relationships with students and their families, and properly addressing important issues in the classroom and school.
Category: Education, Leadership, Teaching