How To Hold Others Accountable With Brian Moran, Founder and CEO of The Execution Company and co-author of ‘Uncommon Accountability’

Episode Summary Accountability isn’t exactly a fun word. It has quite a negative connotation — probably because we’ve been acculturated to think that if we don’t hold ourselves accountable, we’ll suffer negative consequences (or, to use an even more fear-inducing word, punishment). But accountability expert Brian Moran offers a different perspective. As a professional with 30 years of expertise as a CEO, corporate executive, entrepreneur, consultant, and coach, he argues that reframing accountability around ownership rather than consequence can have significant impacts on our teams. Brian co-wrote the bestseller “The 12 Week Year” to teach leaders how to shorten their execution cycle from one year to 12 weeks. In his newest book, “Uncommon Accountability,” he reveals how to “hold others capable” by rejecting “command and control” and focusing instead on nurturing your team members’ sense of autonomy. It’s this autonomy, he argues, that fosters accountability. When employees are encouraged to view accountability as taking ownership, they realize they have freedom of choice in what happens next. It takes the leader out of the equation and puts the employee at the center of their own journey. They determine their future with the company by deciding how to learn from their mistakes. Execution drives accountability, and both are critical to the success of any organization.In this episode of Finding Gravitas, Brian shares his knowledge to help listeners reframe their mindset around accountability and how to help their employees do the same. Themes discussed on this episode: Why so many people hate the word “accountability”How we can create the freedom to perform without “command or control”Why clarity of expectations is so importantThe relationship between accountability and blameWhether or not accountability is a system or a traitHow leaders can foster ownership among their employees How we can confront people with choiceLearn more about your host, Jan Griffiths in this short video Featured Expert: Brian MoranWhat he does: Brian Moran is the founder and CEO of The Execution Company, which helps entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and business leaders improve their performance and results. He is also a motivational keynote speaker and the co-author of two New York Times bestsellers, “The 12 Week Year” and “Uncommon Accountability.”Episode HighlightsTimestamped inflection points from the show[3:24] Getting to know Brian Moran: Brian shares a little about his background, notably how he worked his way through college by working for UPS. He gives a taste of how that experience led him to become the accountability expert he is today.[7:12] The root of his writing: Unlike many business books, “The 12 Week Year” didn’t start with a theory, Brian says. Instead, he and his co-author simply started documenting how they work with clients. More specifically, they answered the question: We’ve created annual plans and goals, but how do we ensure they’re executed?[10:01] The fear-inducing implications of “accountability”: The phrase “holding someone accountable” often has a negative connotation because it’s typically associated with punishment or negative consequences, Brian says. So