Countless managers and executives get fed up with their boss, who seems incapable of holding their peers accountable for getting things done. Some bosses might be too nice. Others fear conflict, and either never do anything, or do nothing until they blow up in anger. The business suffers along with every productive employee.

Contrast this with high-performing teams, where every team member feels accountable to every other teammate, and where the boss rarely must play the “heavy”. Where the most important projects get done on time and team members admit mistakes openly, ask each other for help and receive it.

In our conversation, we're focusing on how to increase accountability within leadership teams of midsized businesses. The answer does not require the boss to get a personality transplant.