Accountability of leadership means not only wielding power but also living by example, and giving advice. And taking responsibility for the actions of a group of people or an organization. Balancing the wielder of authority with the wielder of influence is necessary to succeed in contemporary, dynamic corporate environments.
Being accountable to others is what allows leaders to build trust, and demonstrate integrity. Make sure that staff members take responsibility for their work.
What Is Leadership Accountability?
Accountability is meant to define to whom leaders are accountable. And to what they have to be accountable; this means owning the choices, actions, and outcomes. This includes responsibility beyond checking on others. And should involve setting expectations clearly, and being a good role model.
Critical Components of Accountable Leadership:
Assuming Responsibility for Outcomes: Responsible leaders never shy away from accepting responsibility for what their team has done, big or small.
Setting Expectations:
A responsible leader ensures that members of his/her team know their roles and responsibilities and creates set, achievable targets. Clarity forms a sense of certainty that brings out the best efforts in the employees.
Transparency:
Such leaders communicate openly, as accountability is their hallmark. They provide constructive criticism to their teams and are not secretive about whatever has gone wrong and whatever has gone right. The organization trusts this open communication.
Accountability:
Accountability has roots in integrity. Accountable leaders are honest, keep their promises, and serve as examples to be emulated. When a leader is of one mind in behavior as well as in values, it is most likely that others will respect and accept him or her.
The Role of Influence and Power in Leadership
While trust must be preserved, and a positive work environment must be developed, effective leadership also means knowing when and how to leverage influence and power. Influence is the ability to have an impact on someone’s behavior, character, or growth without coercing them into conformance.
Types of Leadership Power
There are many forms of power in leadership, all with their own dynamics:
Legitimate Power:
This is the source of power stemming from an official position of authority a member of an organization holds. For instance, a manager or a CEO possesses legitimate authority due to their formal position.
Expert Power:
Individuals with expert power have high skills or superior knowledge found to be admirable by other people. Leaders who display expertise and experience in their field have a greater likelihood of being trusted and followed by their workforce.
Referent Power:
The very foundation of referent power is the leader’s ability to inspire love and loyalty. The power frequently rested on the characteristics of the leader charisma, empathy, and integrity-helping endear followers to him.
Coercive power is the capacity to influence an activity through threats or intimidation by possible punishment.
Rôle of Influence in Leadership
While a leader with authority may be able to impose regulations or make choices, long-term loyalty and voluntary commitment are usually motivated by influence. Effective leaders recognize that influence and power can be two sides of the same coin: what gets people moving are influence and power, not power without influence.
Leadership influence:
Those who can influence and mentor people instead of taking control over them are said to have the ability to influence. The most successful leaders are the ones who can create an environment in which people would want to follow them rather than be led by them.
How Do Leaders Build Influence?
If the leaders genuinely connect with their staff, they will have more influence over them. It becomes easier for leaders to guide and motivate the team in this case when relationships are built with trust, respect, and empathy.
Lead by Example:
“Who can show their team what values and behaviours they expect from them?” Their style of influence comes quite effortlessly to those. People want to follow a leader when they trust him. Their aim would be to bring such a leader’s vision to their lifespan.
Good Communicator:
Communication skills are also excellent in great leaders. They listen well to criticism and say what is on their mind freely. Clear communication enforces teamwork and serves as a sense of direction.
Empowering Others:
The more control that leaders cede to their teams to choose for themselves and be accountable for their work, the greater is often the influence commanded.
Balancing Accountability, Influence, and Power
A combination of influence, authority, and accountability needs to strike the correct balance in leadership. Leaders who go too heavily on the side of relying on authority without developing an influence may end up creating poisonous workplaces where one feels forced to comply.
Here is how the leaders can properly balance things:
Use Power Wisely:
Leaders must have some form of authority to lead their teams and make decisions, but they must not misuse the authority to subjugate others or command them. Power must be exercised fairly and sensitively towards the interests it serves.
Develop Influence Through Relationships:
Leaders who have the effort of creating solid relationships based on respect and trust have lots of impact in teams. Influences can mentor staff members instead of micromanagement and the use of power.
Be Accountable:
Accountability towards others enhances the influence capacity of a leader. Respect and obedience tend to be most forthcoming from those who accept accountability over their acts and take responsibility over their mistakes, as well as exhibit consistency in their choices and moral principles.
Promote accountability in others:
That is not meant only for the leaders to take ownership for themselves. They should rather help create an accountable culture among the people they lead. It can be done by giving them the feeling of ownershiphttps://bouncernews.com/, constant feedback, and defined goals.
Conclusion
Two essential elements of great leaders—actually, indispensable ones the accountability of the leader. And the shrewd use of power and influence in leadership. Accountable leaders gain their team members’ trust, but influence masters inspire loyal, hard-driven followers.