Video Transcript:
Just as leaders must formalize results expectations and hold everyone accountable for delivering on those expectations, leaders must formalize respect expectations and hold everyone accountable for modeling those valued behaviors.
Actionable results expectations describe specific, measurable outcomes. Actionable respect expectations describe observable, tangible and measurable behaviors.
Here’s a recent example. We presented our Culture-Focused Leadership program to 100 senior leaders across the State of Maryland. We used a sample survey to give these leaders the experience of measuring workplace values. The questions were based on measurable valued behaviors derived from values many of our clients embrace: integrity, respect, service and excellence.
Each question is stated positively, describing how you want leaders to behave in your workplace. Team members rate each question on a six-point scale. The only desirable responses are at the 5-6 level — “agree” and “strongly agree.”
In our recent program, ninety leaders and staff members answered these questions. The results of these two questions are particularly revealing.
Question five states: “Formal leaders in my organization hold themselves accountable for both performance (results) and values (respect).
Ten respondents answered “strongly agree,” and twenty-eight answered “agree,” which means 42.22% of respondents gave their leaders these top scores. That, unfortunately, leaves 57.78% of leaders who do not model this behavior.
These results mean that in over half of the respondents’ organizations, their leaders do not accept responsibility for delivering on promised performance, and they choose not to model respectful behaviors in daily interactions.
Question six examines whether leaders hold team members accountable for results and respect.
Question six states: “Formal leaders in my organization hold every staff member accountable for both performance (results) and values (respect).”
Nine respondents answered “strongly agree,” and twenty-two answered “agree,” meaning 34.44% of respondents gave their leaders top scores on this behavior. That leaves 65.56% of leaders who do not hold team members accountable for results and respect.
These results indicate that 65% of respondents live in a work culture where results and respect do not matter.
Measuring valued behaviors is a very effective and efficient way to gauge how respectful leaders are.
You can take this same survey today. We’ve created a new survey to measure readers’ perceptions of how well leaders in their organizations model these sample valued behaviors.
It takes three minutes to add your perspective on this survey. Your individual ratings are confidential; your ratings will not be attributed to you. We report only overall scores and ranges.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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