Think about it …

Question:

Which team do you think is usually more effective?

Team “A” or team “B”?

Let’s see …

Inside team “A” – only the team leader holds team members accountable.

However – inside team “B” – team members hold themselves mutually accountable.

Once again – everything else being equal – which team do you think is more effective?

Team “A” or team “B”?

In general terms – without the exceptions – team “B” is more effective.

If this is so – why do most teams look more like team “A”?

In other words: Why – in most teams – only the team leader holds team members accountable?

The crude answer is this: Ignorance, culture and inertia.

"This is what you were taught; this is what you see team leaders do all around – and this is what you do too"

However – if you want to increase the performance of your team – change to mutual accountability.

IF it is true that you are – as the team leader – responsible for holding your direct reports accountable; it is also true that you must create – in order to increase the performance of the team you lead – a team culture where team members hold themselves mutually accountable.

This might sound paradoxical – but we are talking about a team (a small number of people committed to common performance goals) – we are NOT talking about a group (collection of people).

Conclusion:

Culture change is not easy.

But if you want to increase performance – change to a team culture where team members hold themselves mutually accountable.

Once you do – you will be VERY glad you did.

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