We know you’re in the middle of it right now. Tariffs are changing daily. Inflation is out of control. We get it. There’s a lot to be worried about.
You’ve got a team looking to you for direction, pressure from above to hit goals, and somewhere in the middle of it all, you’re trying to figure out how to hold people accountable without becoming the micromanager you never wanted to be.
Then it happens: You’re in your weekly meeting. You look at the Scorecard. And a number goes red.
Maybe it’s a sales call target. Maybe it’s a customer service response time. Maybe it’s something you’re responsible for.
Either way, it’s off track. And suddenly the energy shifts. People get quiet. You feel tension. And all eyes turn to you.
So now what?
Here’s what we want you to hear, loud and clear:
This is not a failure. This is leadership.
When a number goes red, the system is working. You’ve created visibility. You’re no longer flying blind. You’re not waiting until the end of the quarter to find out something went wrong; you’re seeing it right now. That’s a win.
Now, here’s how to respond in a way that builds trust and accountability, not fear or frustration.
1. Name It Without Drama
Don’t avoid it. Don’t rush past it. And don’t beat anyone up. Just call it what it is.
“That number is off track. Let’s drop it to the Issues List and IDS it.”
That’s it. You’ve already won by staying calm, clear, and consistent.
2. Use the Meeting to Solve, Not to Scold
Use the Issues Solving Track:
- Identify the real root cause (not the symptom)
- Discuss possible solutions
- Solve it with a simple To-Do
Most of the time, you’ll uncover something fixable: A missed step. A clunky process. An unclear expectation.
Sometimes, you’ll uncover something harder— like a person who isn’t in the right seat. Either way, the system gives you the structure to lead without making it personal.
3. Stay Consistent
Accountability isn’t about having the perfect conversation every time. It’s about showing up the same way, every week.
- Red numbers don’t get ignored.
- To-Dos don’t get skipped.
- Everyone knows their number.
When your team sees you lead with consistency (not emotion) they’ll stop resisting accountability and start owning it.
4. Make This Your Normal
A red number doesn’t mean someone failed. It means something needs attention.
That’s it.
In time, your team will stop seeing red as a threat and start seeing it as a flashlight. And you’ll stop feeling like you have to carry the weight of performance on your shoulders.
You’ll start solving issues earlier, faster, and with less friction. That’s when your team starts clicking. That’s when you stop dreading the meetings. That’s when leadership starts to feel like progress, not pressure.
You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to lead with clarity, consistency, and a system that supports both.
You’ve got this.
And if you want more practice and support, we’ve got a few workshops coming up where we walk through how to build real accountability, one Measurable at a time.
Hope to see you there.
