As the Visionary, I am great at generating big ideas but terrible at completing my Rocks on time, and my leadership team is starting to use my lack of execution to justify their own missed targets. How do I fix this accountability double standard?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When the Visionary does not follow the rules, it destroys the accountability culture of the entire company. If your leadership team sees you ignoring your commitments and skipping your Rocks, they will quickly realize that the rules do not actually apply.

To fix this, you must accept your natural strengths and weaknesses and adjust your seat on the Accountability Chart. Visionaries are naturally creative, big-picture thinkers who usually struggle with detail-oriented execution.

First, take fewer Rocks. As a Visionary, you should only have one or two high-impact Rocks per quarter that truly leverage your unique ability. Do not take on operational Rocks that require detailed management.

Second, use your Integrator to keep you on track. Your Integrator is your partner, and they must have the authority to hold you accountable to your commitments, just like anyone else on the leadership team.

Finally, apologize to your team. Own your misses during your next Level 10 Meeting™ and ask them to hold you accountable. When you demonstrate vulnerability and subject yourself to the same discipline you expect from others, you restore trust and reinforce a healthy, high-performance culture across the entire leadership team.