Ask This One Simple Question

So, maybe I can’t say “without confrontation”. What I am really talking about is almost eliminate your reluctance to holding others accountable for fear of confrontation.

Managers Must Create Accountability

Many managers know they need to hold their people accountable but are reluctant because they don’t want to insult them, feel like they are micromanaging them, or are afraid of possibly creating conflict with the other person. But, we all know that when work needs to get done, and someone working for you has taken on that work, you need to make sure that work gets done.

Low Trust

This has happened to me when the person doing the work has not earned my trust and my confidence is low that they will complete the work. I know (and you know) when you have doubts if someone doing the work is actually going to do it.

Ask This One Question

It’s all about setting expectation up front, in the beginning. When the assignment is accepted, I ask one simple question.

“If I don’t hear from you by [date], can I check in with you?”

No one ever says “no” to that. But you must check in with them when you say you will or you lose your credibility when asking this same question in the future.  When you follow-up, simply say “I am checking in with you because I said I would. Are you still on track?”

Try It, You’ll Like It

What new action are you assigning this week that you can try out this one simple question?

• How do you hold people (who have not earned your trust yet) accountable?
• Have you struggled to hold other people accountable for their assignments?