In this episode, Cheryl Knowlton and Dave Rosenberg discuss:
Radical accountability's three elements: mechanics, mindset, and modeling
Importance of clear job descriptions, processes, and formal training with testing
Counseling and curiosity instead of yelling when mistakes happen
Leadership's impact on safety: fight/flight/freeze/fawn responses to toxic behavior
Leaders must "walk the talk" to build trust, accountability, and high-performing teams
Key Takeaways:
Radical accountability rests on three legs: mechanics, mindset, and modeling, and when any one of these is missing, performance, trust, and culture all suffer.
Clear job descriptions, documented processes, and written policies remove "I didn't know" as an excuse.
Training must be formal, repeatable, and include testing and practice (like role plays) because without proof of competence, leaders can't fairly hold people accountable or diagnose whether problems are systemic or personal.
When leaders yell, they trigger fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses, not learning or growth, and the alternative is a calm "counseling" conversation that looks for either broken systems or misaligned behavior.
Team members watch what leaders do more than what they say.
"If you want your team to grow, we need to grow as leaders. It's just that simple."
- Dave Rosenberg
About the guest, Dave Rosenberg:
Dave Rosenberg is a professional keynote speaker and leadership development consultant. He guides teams and leaders to foster a culture of accountability that accelerates results.
As a leading authority on high-performance leadership, accountability, and team dynamics, Dave Rosenberg is frequently hired as a leadership speaker, accountability speaker, and change management speaker. Dave's engaging, interactive, and insightful speaking style makes him a preferred keynote speaker for businesses aiming for the best conferences and events.
After 30+ years in leadership positions, Dave's leadership experience is practical, not theoretical. He has been the president of 4 organizations and has consulted with hundreds of companies across the United States. His clients represent a large cross-section of industry, from manufacturing, retail, construction, engineering, farming, trucking, communications, and service.
Connect with Dave Rosenberg:
Website: https://lockedonleadership.com/about-dave-rosenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daverosenbergspeaks/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lockedonleadership
CONNECT WITH CHERYL:
Website: www.cherylknows.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwvWKXBC6fKn1dLGY11hxIg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theknowltonteam/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylknowlton/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherylknows/
Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
