Maui Mastermind is the nation’s premier business coaching company helping businesses successfully scale their companies.

“We measure our success by two metrics: growth, and freedom. Our average client’s business has grown by over 32.7% per year. Our average client increases owner-independence by 194.5%”

Maui Mastermind says: Clarify all action items and deliverables in writing at the end of every meeting.

One of the biggest reasons things get missed is because of a fumbling of the hand off. The receiving party doesn’t know just what they’ve been asked to do, or in fact they may not know that they’ve been asked to do something at all.

Hence the need to clarify all action items and deliverables in writing. Not only does this make sure that you’ve captured all your action items, but it is also a powerful way to role model how you want your team to behave.

Wherever possible, number the commitments so that they are absolutely clear. T

This might look like: “Okay, summing up what I’ve committed to. I’ve got three action items here. Item one . . . item two . . . and item three . . .”(while visibly writing each of them down in your notes). “Now Cheryl has one… two…. And Brad you’ve got one…two… three…”

Teach your team to employ this same skill with their staff. It’s a best practice companies that execute adopt.

Maui Mastermind says: Clearly state what you can’t commit to so that you don’t lower the accountability bar in your company by missing a “phantom deliverable.”

“Phantom deliverables” are those things that the other person thinks you committed to but you didn’t.

As a leader, you need to exhibit great communication by making any phantom deliverables you see come out of a meeting explicit. That way if you can commit to that deliverable, you do so, and if you can’t, you clarify that you are not committing to it.

Maui Mastermind says: Hold Your Focus Long Enough to Make Progress and Reassure Your Team

There is nothing more frustrating to your team than a CEO who constantly shifts the playing field under their feet, one day focused on X, the next on Y.

There is a dynamic balance between flexibility and momentum. Flexibility says, “Be willing to adjust to the market.” And, “Seize opportunities.” Momentum says, “I’m working – feed me.” And, “Support my successes and let me build on what’s working.”

Obviously you need both as you grow your company. You need flexibility so you are nimble and move quickly to take advantage of opportunities. You need momentum so you have time to hit critical mass and build the infrastructure to sustain your growth

Maui Mastermind says: Credibility is a marathon, not a sprint.

You likely noticed that all four of the above accountability suggestions are for YOU the CEO and leader of your company. Accountability is a function of culture, and culture starts at the top.

It doesn’t help if you take off out of the gate gung ho in your desire to model accountability, only to let it slip a few weeks later. If you want accountability to be a real and lasting part of your company culture, you’ve got to maintain your behavior over time.