It is true that to lead others effectively you must first learn how to lead yourself. But once you have learned to govern yourself, you should use your position of leadership to help others on their journey towards self-governance too. And, as you guide them towards independence, this will require knowing how to graciously hold others accountable as well.
No one likes to get called out on their actions. We would rather avoid conflict and sweep things under the rug. But while avoidance can be a useful conflict resolution strategy to buy you some time to cool off after a heated moment, all it does is push the hard conversation down the road. It should never be used as a replacement for a Moment of Truth altogether.
Pretending not to know that there is a problem only makes the problem worse. We must hold one another accountable for our actions in order to see our organizations flourish.
What steps a leader should take to keep someone else accountable depends on where that person is on the Freedom V.
The Freedom V
The Freedom V is a mental model used to visualize an individual’s capacity for self-governance. The outer walls of the V represent hard boundaries. And stepping outside of these lines results in consequences. At the bottom of the V, an individual has little freedom and tight boundaries. But as they mature, their restrictions loosen and they gain more freedom and responsibility. The sign of a self-governing individual is that they are able to tighten their V themselves, placing stricter boundaries on their own actions than those dictated by their organization.
The Bottom of the Freedom V
Individuals at the bottom of the Freedom V require a closer eye and more accountability. You might use the Directive or Transactional styles of leadership when working with these individuals. Directive leadership involves assigning the Path as well as the There and checking in frequently. Transactional leadership utilizes Reward and Coercive Power to motivate individuals to follow the Path, knowing there’s something in it for them at the other side.
The Middle of the Freedom V
While it’s necessary to start out at the bottom of the Freedom V, the goal is to continue to move up and be ready for more responsibility. At this stage, Participative and Delegative leadership can be used to invite the individual into the There-Here-Path process. With Participative leadership, the leader sets the There and both parties work to find the Path together. And in Delegative Leadership, a leader assigns the There and leaves the individual to figure out the Path for themselves. It’s important to note that while responsibility can be delegated, authority cannot. The leader will still need to regularly check in on progress being made and will have the ultimate authority to make calls regarding the project.
The Top of the Freedom V
Individuals who live at the top of the Freedom V are able to self-govern and they regularly set and keep their own internal boundaries. Here, use Transformational leadership to work on the entire There-Here-Path process together, working collaboratively to establish your Here, set a goal for your There, and chart a Path. Once individuals have been successful at the top of the Freedom V and have learned how to hold themselves accountable, they are then able to begin to learn how to be a leader and hold others accountable as well.
Gracie McBride is the Content and Systems Coordinator at The Crossroad.
