Kevin Myers at 12 Stone Church recently did an incredible talk on the issue of "NO Excuses," and the power of accountability. We all have experienced this as leaders. You give a big assignment or project to someone on your team, and they lay an egg- totally drop the ball and don't get it done. We've all been there. Both as the goat as well as the one in charge trying to figure out how to handle the situation.

Let's look at this situation from both sides, both the own who dropped the ball and the one in charge.

As the one who dropped the ball, just own up to it. Don't make excuses. Be self-policing. Be accountable. And be mature. And realize that your leader or your boss or the person in charge is trying to figure out how to deal with your mistake or lack of action- lean into that and bring it up first and tell them it won't happen again. Don't wait on them to have to confront you.

Own up. Grow Up. Shut up. And don't be the goat again.

As the leader, four things: 1. confrontation; 2. conversation; 3. restoration; 4. affirmation. The key on this- get through the confrontation and onto to the conversation and restoration as quick as possible. If you have the right kind of person on your team, they feel terrible anyway, so spend very little time confronting, and way more time on restoration and affirmation.

Reality is, a majority of accountability, both with individuals and with teams, should be built around affirmation. This is not just telling people they are great. That's part of it. But instead, affirming this person and your team about where you are going as a team, how you are going to get there, and how you are winning. Vision. As a leader, DO NOT withhold affirmation.

Assuming you've established trust, a strong level of commitment, and a proper corporate culture, then ultimately affirmation is the greatest power and source of strength for team accountability.