Balancing accountability with autonomy: Leading your team with purpose

Every organisation wants to create high-performing teams that continuously innovate and consistently deliver exceptional results. But in the pursuit of this high performance, how can leaders balance accountability of their teams with the autonomy that fuels innovation?

Metrics like Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and clear objectives are of course important for keeping teams consistent and accountable. But they’re far from the only drivers of success. Connecting teams and individuals with purpose is what really ignites ambition and innovation, and what drives people to strive for results that go far beyond the baseline expectations.

In this article, we explore how connecting people with purpose can power high-performing teams, and how balancing accountability with autonomy is key to getting this right.

Accountability vs. autonomy

KPIs and task-focused objectives are important for keeping teams on track and for measuring performance. They provide necessary structure and ensure alignment with business goals. But in some cases, an overreliance on rigid goals can stifle creativity, discourage risk-taking, and stop people from stepping outside of their comfort zones.

For leaders, there is a fine line to tread, balancing the need to keep teams and individuals accountable to clear and measurable outcomes, while allowing autonomy to figure out the how.

Accountability is about clear targets and ensuring that everyone knows what success looks like. But autonomy is what allows teams to experiment, innovate, and come up with new solutions. This is the space where innovation thrives and where breakthrough performance is delivered.

How purpose can be a driver of performance

Connecting people to purpose drives ownership and encourages people to take the initiative, instead of just being given a task to do and just delivering it. When people are connected to a purpose, accountability takes on a whole new dimension.

Whether it’s about entering new markets or doubling revenues, or shaking up existing markets, what’s important when connecting people with purpose is that they know why they’re doing it, and are inspired by it.

Purpose serves as a guiding force, providing a sense of direction and alignment. It gives teams a reason to move beyond the status quo, pursue innovative ideas, and take risks. By tying objectives to purpose, you empower individuals to act with intention and align their personal goals with the broader mission of the organization. And, when teams are driven by a shared vision, there is added motivation to work collaboratively, think creatively, and push boundaries.

The role of leaders in balancing accountability and autonomy

As a leader, balancing accountability and autonomy relies on clarity. It's about setting clear expectations and measurable standards, but also allowing people to find their way path to those goals.

Leaders can create an environment where accountability and autonomy coexist by:

• Setting clear, purpose-driven commitments: Rather than simply assigning tasks, frame objectives within the context of a larger purpose that inspires and motivates.
• Providing the right resources and support: Equip your team with the tools and knowledge they need, but trust them to apply their skills in the most effective way.
• Encouraging experimentation: Make it clear that innovation and calculated risk is valued, even if it doesn’t always lead to immediate success.
• Fostering a culture of ownership: When individuals feel accountable to a cause they believe in, they will take the initiative to perform at their highest level.

Purpose gives direction and clarity, accountability ensures alignment, and autonomy allows teams to explore new possibilities. Together, they create a high-performance culture where innovation thrives. In these environments, teams are held accountable to measurable outcomes but also given the freedom to approach their work creatively, knowing that their contributions are helping achieve a greater purpose.

Take the race to develop a Covid-19 vaccine. The Jenner Institute and AstraZeneca committed to the ‘impossible’ goal of developing an effective vaccine within a year, delivered on a ‘not-for-profit’ basis. This bold commitment to a shared vision allowed individuals to step outside their day-to-day context, challenge assumptions, experiment and collaborate.

Crucially, there was a deep connection to personal values and the corporate purpose of creating life-changing medicines to people across the globe. High performing teams were galvanised overnight, and the result was accelerated vaccine development, trials and testing delivered in months.

While KPIs will always be essential for measuring performance, the real driver of high-performing teams is purpose. Purpose connects people to something meaningful, and fuels commitment, innovation and breakthrough performance.

If you’d like to learn more about connecting your team with purpose, get in touch to explore how we can help you ignite your ambitions.

Published 06/02/2025