Elevate Team Accountability with Behavioral Norms
A Powerful Complement to OKRs
In my blog post on accountability, I discuss strategies for overcoming issues around accountability. As a leadership coach, I've seen how the strategic use of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) can foster a culture of accountability within technical teams. But OKRs are just one piece of the puzzle – to unlock the power of accountability, leaders must also focus on establishing explicit behavioral norms.
Creating Team Behavioral Norms
Behavioral norms are the unwritten rules that govern how a team works together. They define the expected behaviors, attitudes, and interactions contributing to a harmonious and productive team dynamic.
Here’s how behavioral norms, when combined with well-defined OKRs, can complement how you drive accountability and improve your team dynamics:
Clarity of Roles and Responsibilities: Eliminate ambiguity and create a shared understanding of accountability by setting explicit behavioral norms that define roles, responsibilities, and performance standards for the team.
Collaborative Problem-Solving: Address issues head-on, collaboratively. Establish a team norm that encourages approaching challenges promptly and directly, with a cooperative mindset rather than a siloed or blame-shifting mentality.
Psychological Safety: Actively encourage team members to take risks, voice their opinions, share setbacks, and learn from mistakes. They are more likely to hold themselves and their peers accountable.
Onboarding and Integration: Maintain consistency and accountability as the team evolves. Clearly defined behavioral norms provide a roadmap for integrating and contributing effectively for new team members.
To implement behavioral norms effectively, engage your team in a collaborative process to define the expected behaviors and attitudes. Ensure norms align with your organizational values and leverage them as the foundation for the team culture you want to create.
Once established, leverage the group agreements to hold each other accountable, revisiting as needed to keep them at the top of mind.
Its ok to start small and cultivate leadership skills that will transform your approach long-term.
You don't have to navigate these changes alone—let's collaborate and unlock your leadership potential and enhance open communication within your team. Schedule a strategic leadership session today and fast-track your career growth.