TheUPside Podcast: "Building a Culture of Accountability"

Host: Theresa Flood
Date: April 15, 2025

Episode Overview

In this impactful episode, Theresa Flood focuses on practical strategies for building a culture of accountability in professional and personal settings. Speaking directly to current and aspiring leaders, she offers actionable advice on cultivating responsibility and ownership, both in oneself and others. Drawing on personal stories and expert insights, Theresa provides a roadmap for leaders looking to unlock productivity, foster positive mindsets, and inspire genuine change within teams or families.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Exhaustion of Managing Unaccountable People

• Theresa sets the stage by contrasting the vitality of accountable environments with the draining nature of teams where responsibility is dodged.
• "If you have ever been a leader that has felt like you have to push people like through the race... it's honestly very, very exhausting."
  — Theresa Flood [02:20]

2. Three Ways to Build a Culture of Accountability

A. Hire Accountable People

• Look for accountability during interviews: Does the candidate take ownership for past mistakes, or do they “pass the buck”?
• Warning signs: Frequent job changes blamed on others, a pattern of excuses.
• "It is exhausting to try to hold a non-accountable person accountable. It just becomes punitive at that point."
  — Theresa [04:44]
• "The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior."
  — Theresa [05:10]
• However, Theresa believes people can change if intentional growth is demonstrated.

Notable Quotes:

• "You can have reasons or results, and you can't have both."
  — Theresa [06:01]
• Reference: Hal Elrod, author of The Miracle Morning:
  "The moment you take responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you can change anything in your life."
  — [05:30]

B. Model Taking Ownership as a Leader

• Leaders must demonstrate accountability, acknowledging both successes and failures.
• Personal Story: Theresa shares a candid story about a car accident resulting from her own mistake, showing her children how to take responsibility.
  "I said, officer, it was 100% my fault...And I got back in the car and I told the girls, that's how you take responsibility when something is your fault."
  — Theresa [11:04]
• Admitting mistakes shows strength, not weakness.
  "There's no perfect leaders, no perfect humans out there. Be accountable and own the mistake."
  — Theresa [13:30]
• Praising accountability in others fosters more of it.
• "People want to know. They're not looking for perfect leaders to follow. They're looking for people that have the character and the vision to take them forward."
  — Theresa [14:19]

C. Foster a Coaching Culture

• Set clear expectations and standards—people can't own what they don't fully understand.
• Provide regular feedback; accountable people appreciate knowing where they stand.
• Ask questions that prompt self-reflection, ownership, and personal relevance.
• "When you give somebody the ability to come up with the idea themselves by asking powerful questions, you will cause them to own the next steps."
  — Theresa [17:55]
• Ensure goals are personal and meaningful to promote genuine buy-in.
• Reference:
  "The quality of your life, Tony Robbins says, is determined by the quality of your questions."
  — Theresa [19:20]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It is exhausting to try to hold a non accountable person accountable. It just becomes punitive at that point. It's a drain and it will never work long term."
  — Theresa Flood [04:44]

• "You can have reasons or results, and you can't have both."
  — Theresa [06:01]

• "The moment you take responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you can change anything in your life."
  — Hal Elrod, referenced by Theresa [05:30]

• "I take responsibility. And I got back in the car and I told the girls, that's how you take responsibility when something is your fault."
  — Theresa [11:04]

• "People aren't looking for perfect leaders to follow. They're looking for people with character and vision."
  — Theresa [14:19]

Important Timestamps

• 00:03 — Introduction and recap of last week’s individual accountability discussion
• 02:20 — The exhaustion of leading unaccountable teams
• 04:44 — Why hiring accountable people matters and signs to watch for
• 06:01 — “Reasons or results” quote and how victim language sabotages teams
• 10:40 — Personal story: Modeling accountability through real-life events
• 13:30 — Admitting mistakes as strength in leadership
• 17:15 — The importance of feedback and setting expectations
• 19:20 — The coaching culture and the power of asking questions
• 20:30+ — Summary of steps and parting encouragement

Tone & Style

Theresa’s style is straightforward yet empathetic, blending personal vulnerability with practical guidance. She underscores growth, personal ownership, and the positive effect of modeling accountability—with a strong belief that leadership starts from the inside out.

Episode Summary

Theresa Flood’s “Building a Culture of Accountability” is a concise, actionable guide for leaders at every level. She stresses:

• The importance of hiring for accountability,
• The necessity of leaders modeling responsibility—"owning your fingerprint" for both success and failure,
• And the power of fostering a coaching culture through clear expectations, regular feedback, and empowering questions.

Listeners are left with clear, actionable steps and a reminder that investing in daily growth yields lasting returns in life and business.