In today's dynamic lending environment, meeting client needs requires more than individual excellence; it demands shared ownership and accountability across every level of the organization. This episode of the Forward Thinking Podcast features FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton and Mike Evans, author and speaker on leadership, and speaker at the upcoming Sales Leaders Conference. He shares insights into building resilient, accountable and high-performing teams in an increasingly complex and demanding landscape, and what leaders can do to increase accountability on their teams.  

Episode Insights Include:

Drivers behind the demand for increased agility

• Peak-performing organizations know that accountability and leadership are essential. 

• Excelling in 'future work' requires the fast, flexible and agile will succeed. 

• Those who are unwilling to adapt will find themselves increasingly vulnerable. 

Common obstacles that impede accountability

• Are you an accountable person? Do you need to see more accountability in your team or organization?

• If we consider ourselves accountable, why do we still demand more accountability from others?

• 100 people will give you 100 different definitions of accountability. How can it be standardized? 

• Many organizations have a generally negative definition of accountability. 

• If accountability is viewed as a negative, people will resist embracing it. 

Redefining accountability

• What percentage of leaders believe that they communicate well?

• What percentage of teams believe that their leaders communicate?

• How can the gap between these two numbers be decreased in effective ways?

• Define meaningful, measurable, and memorable goals to improve results. 

Nurturing a culture of accountability

• The 20 best practices will help employees clearly understand where they need improvement. 

• Leaders need to model best practices first. 

• Teams need to see a behavior in their leaders before they will take it on themselves. 

• Best practices must be integrated into daily routines. 

• Accountability, collaboration and mindsets are essential to thriving in today's competitive landscape. 

The impact of AI in today's competitive landscape

• A variety of futurists and global leaders weigh in on the change that AI will bring.

• How will your company stand out when competing with all-knowing machines? 

• Curiosity is an essential key to standing out.  

First steps for leaders to encourage accountability

• What your team sees you do is what they will do. 

• Does your team have the resources necessary to keep learning?

• If you're not listening to your team, don't expect commitment from them. 

• Leaders need to develop these skills in themselves first. 

• You can't make anyone else more accountable. 

• Watch for warning signs that accountability is not taking place. 

• Create a culture that is more focused on results than activity. 

• Remain open to the perspectives of others. 

This podcast is powered by FCCS.

Resources

Connect with Mike Evans — Mike Evans 

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"Those who are unwilling to adapt will find themselves vulnerable and at the mercy of the competition." — Mike Evans

"We may think that we see ourselves as doing things really well when it comes to accountability, but we don't see where we're dropping the ball." — Mike Evans

"When leader communication is crystal clear, people will surprise you with their ingenuity." — Mike Evans

"When people can see the why, they will astound you with their ability to become engaged, collaborative, innovative and creative." — Mike Evans

"Leaders can't expect anyone else to change their behavior unless they demonstrate it first." — Mike Evans

"The white waters of change are not going to calm anytime soon. If anything, they are going to become more turbulent." — Mike Evans

"What we've done in the past cannot be relied upon to get us where we need to be in the future." — Mike Evans