Why every leader needs radical accountability
Leadership is often reduced to a familiar collection of habits: waking before sunrise, exercising, and arriving at work before everyone else. The implication is that successful leaders are naturally disciplined people who organize every part of their lives with almost mechanical precision. I do not believe that. I believe leaders are made, not born, and discipline is developed through…
Radical accountability is a crucial trait for any leader. It is often mistaken for innate discipline, but leaders are cultivated, not born with these qualities. This lesson became evident during the full-scale war in Ukraine. Despite the dire circumstances, team members stepped up, took responsibility, and displayed leadership skills they may not have known they had before.
This phenomenon is not unique to military conflicts. Research conducted during the pandemic also revealed that transformational leadership thrived in periods of heightened complexity and uncertainty. While we cannot predict all the challenges we will face, we can prepare ourselves to meet adversity with resilience.
Take, for instance, the author's own experience during the pandemic. Life felt like being stuck on a highway, unable to see beyond the next car's tail lights. It was then that the author discovered running. Initially, it started as long walks around the neighborhood, gradually evolving into jogging to and from school. The transformation was subtle, a steady increase in the ability to endure discomfort.
This practice instilled radical accountability in the author's life. There was no one else to complete the distance or carry the burden. The responsibility rested solely on the individual. Whether running 30 minutes or just a few steps, consistency mattered more than occasional bursts of intensity.
Leadership, much like running, is an ultramarathon. Careers and companies are built brick by brick, requiring consistent effort over time. In today's fast-paced world, change happens rapidly, but meaningful transformation takes years. Leaders must maintain their composure during periods of visible progress and enduring fatigue. A challenging discipline outside work can reveal valuable insights about one's relationship with oneself.
It can reveal whether promises are kept when no one is watching, the ability to tolerate slow progress, and the capacity to return after a tough day. The author's advice to future leaders is simple: choose a difficult discipline, then keep showing up.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
