Accountability Leadership
Build systems and mindsets that drive ownership and execution
Brené Brown on Blame
Type: Video | Duration: 4 min | Source: Brené Brown on Blame (RSA Short)
Brené considers why we blame others, how it sabotages our relationships, and why we desperately need to move beyond this toxic behavior to build accountability.
Tags: Accountability, Culture, Leadership
Who Has the D? How to Create Decision Accountability
Type: Article | Duration: 12 min read | Source: Harvard Business Review
The RAPID framework helps teams clarify who recommends, agrees, performs, inputs, and decides. Essential for eliminating decision paralysis.
Tags: Decision-Making, Frameworks, Accountability
Extreme Ownership: Leading Like a Navy SEAL
Type: Video | Duration: 22 min | Source: Jocko Willink - TEDx Talk
The principle that changed military leadership: leaders must own everything in their world. No excuses, no blame—just ownership and action.
Tags: Accountability, Ownership, Leadership Mindset
The Cost of Avoiding Accountability
Type: Article | Duration: 8 min read | Source: Patrick Lencioni - Table Group
From "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team", why avoiding accountability is the silent killer of high-performing teams and what to do about it.
Tags: Team Dynamics, Accountability, Performance
The WHY|WHAT|HOW Framework
Type: Video | Duration: 18 min read | Source: Simon Sinek - Start With Why
Start with why, clarify what, then explain how. The golden circle of communication that ensures your messages land with impact and drive action.
Tags: Communication, Framework, Clarity

Message Clarity Checklist
Type: Tool | Video Duration: 5 min | Source: Element of Change
Before you send that email or make that announcement, run it through this checklist. Ensures every message has clear WHY, WHAT, and HOW.
Quick Checklist:
- Have I explained WHY this matters?
- Is the WHAT specific and measurable?
- Is the HOW clear (who, when, resources)?
Tags: Communication Tool, Clarity, Quick Reference
Accountability in Difficult Conversations
Navigate conflict, deliver feedback, and have conversations that create
Radical Candor: The Art of Caring While Challenging
Type: Article | Duration: 10 min read | Source: Kim Scott - First Round Review
How to give feedback that's both kind and clear. The framework that helps you avoid ruinous empathy while building trust.
Tags: Feedback, Radical Candor, Leadership
How to Disagree Productively
Type: Video | Duration: 14 min | Source: Amy Edmondson - TED Talk
Harvard professor shows how psychological safety enables productive conflict. Learn to create environments where people can disagree without fear.
Tags: Psychological Safety, Conflict, Team Dynamics
Find the Coaching in Criticism
Type: Article | Duration: 15 min read | Source: Douglas Stone & Sheila Heen - Harvard Negotiation Project
From "Thanks for the Feedback"—why receiving feedback is harder than giving it, and how to close the gap that's costing your team performance.
Tags: Feedback, Communication, Growth Mindset
SBI Feedback Model
Type: Article | Duration: 8 min | Source: Center for Creative Leadership
The Situation-Behavior-Impact model makes feedback specific, actionable, and non-threatening. Learn the three-step structure that leaders worldwide use.
Tags: Feedback Model, SBI Framework, Communication
If Your Team Agrees on Everything, Working Together Is Pointless
Type: Article | Duration: 9 min read | Source: Liane Davey - HBR
How "nice" cultures create dysfunction. Why avoiding conflict actually creates more of it, and the practical steps to normalize healthy disagreement. Collaboration requires constructive conflict to be effective.
Tags: Conflict Avoidance, Culture, Team Health
The Ladder of Inference: How to Avoid Jumping to Conclusions
Type: Article | Duration: 10 min read | Source: Harvard Business School Online
Learn how our brains climb an invisible ladder from facts to conclusions—often skipping crucial steps. This framework helps you slow down your thinking, challenge assumptions, and have more productive conversations by staying grounded in observable data.
Additional Recommended Resources
Books
How to Use This Library

For Individual Development:
- Identify your biggest leadership challenge (decision-making, feedback, difficult conversations)
- Start with one resource from that category
- Apply what you learn within 24 hours
- Track your progress using the tools and worksheets provided

For Team Development:
- Select a resource relevant to a current team challenge
- Have everyone review it before a team meeting
- Discuss how to apply it to your specific context
- Create team agreements based on the principles
- Revisit and refine after 30 days

For Ongoing Learning:
- Schedule 30 minutes weekly for learning
- Rotate through different resource types (video, article, tool)
- Share insights with your team
- Request additional resources as needed
Need a specific resource we don't have?
Contact us at [email protected] to submit a request.