Would you describe yourself as irresponsible, inconsistent, undisciplined or reckless? I would hope not.

If we were to ask a leader if they were any of these things, I believe most would say they are accountable without understanding the depth of their answer.

In reality, they are only accountable for a specific area of responsibility, which is typically the bottom line (until something happens, that is). What if we were to instead ask the question, “Are you accountable in your integrity, values, judgment, decisions and your vision for the future of your people and your family and friends?”

According to Gallup, there are seven demands most executive leaders experience: visioning, maximizing values, challenging experiences, mentoring, building constituency, making sense of experience and knowing self. These demands demonstrate that the need for accountability extends far beyond the “bottom line.”

Leaders should be asking themselves, “To whom am I accountable, and for what?” It is one thing to be accountable to the board or shareholders, but where does your accountability to your employees, family, friends and even yourself (your health, personal/professional growth, and spiritual practices) come into play? If you do not have accountability set up in these places, chances are that you are not being effective in them, even if you say they are important.

To help you become a more well-rounded, effective leader, below are suggested steps and questions to ask yourself in order to discover your center of authenticity and create systems of accountability.

Six Steps To Create Accountability For Yourself