Uncommon Accountability

10CASTING AN ACCOUNTABLE SHADOW

There is an old adage that says: “Our actions speak louder than our words.” The actions we take each day carry more weight with others than most of us realize. Politicians are famous for their speeches, and infamous for their actions (or lack thereof). Our actions, more than our statements, are a window into our true thinking. That's why being intentional with our behaviors as leaders is critical to establishing the behaviors that we want to see in our teams.

Leaders are especially positioned to influence others with their actions based on their role. People constantly look to them for insights and direction. They learn what's most important to do based on what the leader does. If the leader cuts corners, they will too; if the leader works to be excellent, they will likely do the same.

This chapter is targeted at organizational leaders, yet it is applicable for everyone. We influence our children, our peers, and even our bosses by the actions we take more than the words that we speak.

Many of our own behaviors are an outcome of observing someone else behave in a certain way in a similar situation. Research has confirmed that others' behaviors influence ours. We all can see how social influencers affect what people say, do, and wear. We all tend to emulate powerful and influential people in our lives.

Who are the first powerful people we come in ...