The conversation is where you're surfacing the impacts of behaviour. It's not enough for somebody to acknowledge at the level of intention or intentionality that they get it, we have to talk about what those impacts are. The last thing we'll say here is, especially as you get into the latter stages of the dial the conversation, the boundary and the limit, they sound like they could be more punitive. All they are is a little bit more crisp. They're not any more punitive. You're going to be big, open hearted you at every single step of the dial up through and including the limit. That's how you lead people in the modern world effectively, is by showing
Jonathan Raymond: Good Authority
Jonathan Raymond is the founder of Refound, where he and his team work with organizations to create a company culture based in personal growth. He’s the author of the book Good Authority: How to Become the Leader Your Team Is Waiting For*.
Jonathan’s team recently released The Good Accountability course* to help leaders have great feedback conversations with their teams. If you are working to get better at accountability, it’s the most useful framework I know of to balance care for people and accountability for results.
In this conversation, Jonathan and I discuss the Accountability Dial, how it’s most useful when leading virtually, and the importance of taking the first step.
Key Points
You don’t get to look good and grow at the same time.
Assume positive intent, regardless of where you are on the accountability dial.
The Accountability Dial:
The Mention: In real-time (if possible), pull them aside to offer an observation about an undesired behavior.
The Invitation: Provide 2-3 examples of how that behavior is a pattern or theme they can work on.
The Conversation: Use your weekly one-on-ones to dive into how the pattern is holding them back.
The Boundary: Collaborate together to decide next steps and set a timeline for making a change.
The Limit: Before giving up, have one more heart-to-heart to give them a final chance for meaningful change.
Resources Mentioned
The Good Accountability course*
Good Authority: How to Become the Leader Your Team Is Waiting For* by Jonathan Raymond
Refound (Jonathan’s firm)
Book Notes
Download my highlights from Good Authority in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
Five Steps to Hold People Accountable, with Jonathan Raymond (episode 306)
Effective Delegation of Authority, with Hassan Osman (episode 413)
How to Start Managing Up, with Tom Henschel (episode 433)
The Way to Be More Self-Aware, with Tasha Eurich (episode 442)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.