One of the most common challenges leaders face isn’t generating ideas — it’s ensuring those ideas turn into action. We’ve all been in meetings where commitments are made with enthusiasm, but weeks later, progress is minimal. This gap between intention and action can erode trust, lower morale, and slow momentum. At its core, this is a question of accountability and follow through.

Why Accountability Matters:

Accountability is more than just checking boxes. It’s about creating an environment where people honor their commitments to themselves, their team, and the organization. When accountability is gone, deadlines slip, projects stall, and trust weakens. When it is present, however, teams thrive. Accountability fuels clarity, reliability, and respect.

The Leader’s Role

As leaders, we set the tone. Accountability begins with modeling. When we follow through on our promises, show up when we say we will, and admit when we’ve fallen short, we create space for others to do the same. Accountability isn’t about blame — it’s about responsibility. It’s about owning outcomes and encouraging others to do so as well.

Building a Culture of Follow Through

So how do we move from good intentions to consistent action? A few practical steps:

The Ripple Effect

When accountability becomes part of the culture, something powerful happens: trust deepens. People know they can rely on one another. Projects move forward with greater ease. And, perhaps most importantly, individuals grow in confidence, knowing their contributions matter.

As leaders, our challenge is not only to hold others accountable but also to invite accountability into our own lives. Follow through is the bridge between vision and reality. Without it, ideas remain ideas. With it, we create lasting impact.

Where in your leadership are you struggling with accountability and follow through and what one step can you take this week to strengthen it?

What is one commitment you can make this week — and be sure to follow through on to strengthen your credibility as a leader?

When was the last time I committed to something but didn’t follow through? What got in the way?

Leadership Resource: "The 12 Week Year" by Brian Morgan and Michael Lennington

This book reframes your year into 12-week cycles, creating priority, focus, and clarity. It discusses how, by shortening the execution timeline, leaders avoid complacency and drive real results, getting more done in 12 weeks than most do in 12 months.

"Most organizations and individuals work in the context of annual goals and plans; a twelve-month execution cycle. Instead, The 12 Week Year avoids the pitfalls and low productivity of annualized thinking. This book redefines your "year" to be 12 weeks long."

Click here to order this book and read more about it on Amazon!

Personal Life Update:

I’m thrilled to share my new book with you—Deposits from the Deep, a collection of modern-day psalms.

Readers have described it as a blend of poems, prayers, reflections, and songs. Many have also shared how the stunning artwork on each page beautifully complements and brings the words to life.

My prayer is that these pages uplift your spirit and encourage your soul.

You can order your copy today on Amazon—and if it resonates with you, I’d love for you to leave a review! Click here to order! If you would like to know more about what is happening around this book, check it out here.

Leadership Spotlight: Rising Tide Car Wash

In 2015, John D’Eri opened Rising Tide Car Wash to create meaningful opportunities for his autistic son, Andrew. A decade later, that vision employs 90 neurodivergent adults across three thriving locations, with a fourth on the way.

It’s a powerful reminder that when leaders commit to inclusion and follow-through, a rising tide truly does lift all boats.

Sheeba Varghese is a strategic partner for your talent development solutions and the author of Confidence, Clarity & Ease: A Guide For Emerging Leaders To Thrive. Her passion is to inspire and equip men and women to lead with excellence and authenticity within the spheres of influence that they are called to impact in life. The spheres may be in a home, on a team, in a classroom, among partners in a firm, or within management, to name a few.

Senior Leaders and professionals who want to develop stronger leadership skills, have impact, and move forward in their careers

Teams who want to work cohesively within their organizations

Coaches who want to renew or apply for certification with ICF

If you want to improve your leadership skills, transition from managing to leading, ensure your team is amazingly successful, increase your self-awareness, and progress your career, or aspire to be a masterful coach for your clients, then Sheeba would love to support you. She works with clients globally, both face-to-face, by phone, or by Zoom.

In her time apart from clients, Sheeba enjoys time with her husband, Santosh, and their 2 sons, Sam and Steven. She loves great movies, a good book, decorating, and dining at the wonderful restaurants in the Bay Area.