The Program

11Hold “Best” Accountable

LEADERS CAN CREATE a world-class championship culture, but it takes others to sustain it. In keeping with the approach of allowing our “best” to determine the goals and, more importantly, the standards of our organization, if standards are not met, the leader should not be the one to correct those failing to meet them. Instead, the leader holds the “best” people accountable for doing so. Remember, it is their own standards that are not being met, the ones to which they said they wanted to be held accountable and to which they would hold the team. The “best” own the standards. If their standards are not being met by any person in the organization, it is the responsibility of the “best” people—not the head coach, warehouse supervisor, or regional sales director—to hold those individuals or the team accountable.

Too often, we task the “best” with determining the goals and standards, but instead of holding them accountable, leaders hold the whole team accountable. Hold the “best” accountable! If they don’t want to be held accountable, they aren’t one of the “best.”

Finally, world-class championship teams have world-class championship cultures. They have both S.M.A.R.T. goals and high standards. They are committed to both. If a goal is not met, reattack it. If it is, celebrate it. Typically, this occurs naturally (i.e., a cheering crowd, greater publicity, or financial compensation). If a standard is not met, hold our “best” accountable and enforce a consequence. ...