The Metiss Group's Blog

Hopefully, each of your Direct Reports has a job accountability matrix capturing the job’s activities, priorities, and success factors.  Maybe instead, it’s a “job description” listing the job’s requirements and expectations.  Maybe it’s a tattered sheet of paper detailing what you’d like out of the job.

Whatever you are using to scope your Direct Report’s job, be sure to review and update it regularly.  We recommend reviewing job accountabilities during each quarterly performance review session.  By reviewing the accountabilities regularly with your Direct Report, you both are reminded of what is important.

Do not assume the job’s description is static and cannot be changed.  The document is a dynamic, evolving view of the job and should be updated as the job evolves or changes.  The responsibility for owning the updates and current nature of the Accountability Matrix or Job Description lies with your direct report.

Empower your Direct Reports to manage their job accountabilities and watch both your careers succeed.

There is a legend that is told of a French Monastery known throughout Europe for the exceptional leadership of a man known only as Brother Leo. Several monks took a pilgrimage to visit this extraordinary leader to learn from him. Starting out on the pilgrimage they almost immediately begin to argue over who should do certain chores.

On the third day of their journey they met another monk also going to the monastery; he joined them. This monk never bickered about doing chores and did them dutifully. And when the others would fight about which chores to do, he would simply volunteer to do them himself. On the last day of their journey, others began to follow his example and the bickering stopped.

When the monks reached the monastery they asked to see Brother Leo. The man who greeted them laughed. “But our brother is among you!” And he pointed to the fellow that had joined them.

Many seek positions in leadership to serve their own interests and not that of others. There are many self serving reasons why a person may want to lead such as power, status, networking and money. But the best leaders lead because they care about people. And those are the types of leaders that lead like Brother Leo. They teach through their actions, not by words alone. They are servants, not commanders.

Reprint: Teamwork and Leadership Bloggings with Mike Rogers