In my career, I've had the pleasure of working with and consulting with a lot of companies. As I'm sure we can all relate, there's a demand to improve productivity. As one digs deeper, I quite often encounter a lack of accountability, which stems from an absence of clearly defined responsibilities. Essentially, there are roles with unspecified duties and expectations, yet there remains an expectation of accountability for these undefined responsibilities. How so? Productivity is achieved through accountability, which is rooted in clearly defined responsibilities. This entire process is supported by transparency.
You might think this is straightforward and obvious. But consider this: when you promoted someone, did you clearly define and communicate their new responsibilities to everyone, ensuring transparency in the change of responsibility? If not, act quickly to rectify this. How can we hold someone accountable for productivity if there's no transparency in the changes of expected responsibilities?
How about an analogy. Productivity in a team is like a well-tuned orchestra. Each musician (team member) is accountable for their part, playing their instrument (responsibility) with precision and attention. The conductor (leader) ensures everyone understands their role, guiding the orchestra towards harmony. Just as the conductor's baton movements are visible to all, transparency in the team ensures every action and decision is clear and observable. This visibility fosters trust and coordination, allowing the orchestra to perform at its best, creating a symphony of productivity."
The orchestra's harmony and excellence in performance represent the productivity achieved through clear responsibilities, accountability, and the transparency of each member's role and contribution. Where my musicians at?
Now, if only I could create a better analogy that includes my favorite rapper, 2Pac… until the end of time.... 🤔