Barrier#6: Lack of true accountability - Overcoming Barriers to Planning and Execution

 [Editor's Note: In Issues for Growth Vol. 31, No.11, we asked the question, "Are there barriers blocking your successful growth and execution?" We then listed the Barriers to successful Planning and the Barriers to successful Execution. We are continuing a series of Issues for Growth where we will tackle each of these barriers and identify ways to overcome each. We continue with Barrier #6. -dpm]

Overcoming Barriers to Planning and Execution -

Barrier#6: Lack of true accountability

Over time, every organization will create barriers to success. The very things that made you successful as a startup or growing organization may prevent you from being successful at the next level.



Barriers to Planning Success

•          History of only partially developing plans
•          History of unreasonable expectations and unachievable goals
•          Lack of internal understanding about customers, competitors, and the market

 

Barriers to Execution Success

•          Gaps in management depth
•          History of abandoning projects
•          History of lack of openness and poor communications
•          History of poor delegation and leadership development
•          Lack of true accountability

Barrier#6: Lack of True Accountability

We have a saying at Mead Consulting: " A good plan flawlessly executed beats an excellent plan poorly executed every time"

What are the characteristics of this barrier in an organization? Do any of these look familiar?

• Unclear Vision and Direction: Employees do not know keys to company success- or they all have different views as to what they are.
• Goals may be unclear, confusing, or there are too many different goals
• "We keep adding initiatives and projects and never take anything off the list."

• Micromanaging or Command and control: Employees do not feel they have control over how to deliver results

• Lack of Job Understanding or Training: "I have never been shown what is expected"; "I didn't receive any training"

• Employees don't know where to go for help

• Employees feel Undervalued: "No one cares about my opinion." People do not feel their opinion is valued - that is, every employee

• People do not feel comfortable delivering bad news such as the "project is behind schedule" or "we have a major quality problem." So they ignore or sugarcoat things.

• People do not feel trusted.
• "I am not confident my efforts will be rewarded"
•  "I suspect that my manager (or the company leader) may take advantage of me"
• "I question my manager's (or the company leader's) motives"
• "I am sure they will take credit for my accomplishments"

• Departments do not cooperate with each other. We constantly practice the "blame game"

• Employees are Not Engaged - "People do just enough to get through the day."

• Loyalty and seniority are valued higher than performance

The impact on an organization - A lack of accountability can paralyze an organization

Overcoming this barrier - Strategic Planning and establishing action plans is not worth much in an organization that lacks accountability. Why spend time and resources developing strategic initiatives if you can't hold the organization accountable for achieving them. The Mead Consulting Group doesn't start strategic planning and execution in an organization without a clear path to accountability.

Additional Resources -We ran a series of articles in 2018 on Accountability

 

·    Is a Lack of Accountability a Problem in My Organization

·     Am I Part of the Accountability Problem in My Organization

·   Starting Down the Path to Greater Accountability

·   Top 5 Accountability Pitfalls

Identifying the barriers to planning and execution is critical. Companies that have addressed the barriers are amazed at how much more their management teams are engaged and how the process energizes the entire organization. CEOs of companies that have had years of poor planning and execution history, find that their organizations are far more capable than they ever imagined of achieving superior results.

The Mead Consulting Group has helped many companies identify and overcome the barriers to successful planning and execution.

Our Customer Forward TM Strategic Growth & Execution process is simple and effective at uncovering the key obstacles and barriers and developing recommendations for improvement - then laying out the best strategic path. Finally, validating that strategic growth & execution plan with customers and the market.

If you would like to have a conversation about this, please contact Dave Mead at (303)660-8135 or meaddp@meadconsultinggroup.com.