If your team keeps circling the same issues, missing deadlines, or hesitating to commit – it might not be a capability problem.
It might be an accountability problem.
Avoidance of accountability is one of the top factors that impacts team performance.
It shows up quietly, but consistently:
- Projects drift without clear ownership
- Decisions are delayed or watered down
- People stay silent when action is needed
And while the symptoms look like inaction, the real issue is often unfocused thinking and unclear expectations.
Accountability doesn’t happen by default. It happens by design.
Here’s the thing most leaders don’t realise:
Accountability doesn’t come from pressure.
It comes from clarity, and from being asked the right question at the right time.
When team members aren’t clear on what they own, who they’re accountable to, or why it matters, it’s no surprise they hesitate.
So instead of repeating the same instructions louder, ask better questions.
Use questions that help people take ownership:
These aren’t generic questions.
They’re designed to shift thinking – from avoidance to personal responsibility.
Start with clarity:
- “What specifically needs to happen next?”
- “Who is best placed to take this on?”
These questions avoid ambiguity and assign ownership without blame.
Then go deeper to invite responsibility:
- “Are you prepared to take personal responsibility for achieving this goal?”
- “How certain are you (1–10) that you’ll follow through on what you’ve committed to?”
These reveal how committed someone truly is and open space for useful conversations if the answer is anything less than a 9 or 10.
Support planning and follow-through:
- “What knowledge or skills will help you succeed?”
- “How will you gain that – and by when?”
- “How much time will you choose to allocate to this priority?”
- “What’s the most effective way for you to plan this into your week?”
These questions turn vague good intentions into clear, measurable plans.
And finally, remove excuses:
- “What might get in the way – and how will you respond?”
- “Who will you choose to be accountable to?”
These questions reduce the risk of drift, and reframe accountability as a choice – not something imposed.
Why this matters more than ever
In today’s fast-moving environments, teams don’t just need to know what to do – they need to own it.
When people take responsibility:
- Progress speeds up
- Trust increases
- Wasteful hand-offs disappear
- Results improve – fast
And it all starts with the quality of the questions you ask.
Final Thought:
If your team isn’t stepping up, it might be time to step back…
…and ask a better question.
