The Power of Accountability and Tough Love

2 Minute ReadThink about a successful company that you know of. What do you believe made that company successful? Was it their excellent culture, their ability to work together, or perhaps their ability to persevere through tough times? Maybe their success is attributed to the leadership, or their ability to hold people accountable. It could be a multitude of things that mixed together and made just the right formula for success. Regardless of the formula, we believe two ingredients must have existed: accountability and tough love.Yes, love. It's not the first word that comes to mind when you think about what it takes to run a successful company. The first list we mentioned is probably more along the lines of what you might think of. But, doesn't love encompass all those things?In his video, Dr. John Izzo tells a story about a successful bank in Columbus, Georgia, that attributes its success to "The Power of Love." In 1998, this bank had 57 consecutive quarters of double-digit profit growth and a turnover rate of one-fifth their industry average. This bank was named one of the best companies to work for in America. After reading this information, Dr. Izzo set out to find out why.On his journey, he interviewed Jimmy Blanchard, who ran the bank at the time. And his response to success: the power of love. Through more discovery and questioning, Dr. Izzo found out that it was, in fact, a mixture of accountability and tough love. Blanchard said, "We love each other; we love our customers." This was a highly engaged business that believed in the power of love, 100% accountability, and 0 excuses. Dr. Izzo speaks more to the 100/0 concept here.

There is never an excuse not to be your absolute best. It's about accountability and tough love.

 Izzo goes on to explain that within successful companies, the people love each other. "One part of the company cries, and the whole company cries with him." It's the power of love. You can't run a successful company without truly caring for each and every employee within it - each and every employee that makes it successful.And it's love - tough love - that also helps people hold each other accountable. It's about 100% Responsibility / 0 Excuses. Each person is responsible for the success of himself and for the success of the company. There is never an excuse not to be your absolute best. It's about accountability and tough love.So, take a moment and ask yourself what Dr. Izzo would ask you:

• Do 100% of your employees know what's expected of them?
• Do 100% of your employees know what the company stands for?
• Can you honestly say that 100% of your employees are great ambassadors for your business?
• And...do you believe in the Power of Love?

Looking for more from Dr. John Izzo? Click Here.More on accountability? Click Here.