If you love Peter Gabriel, Kiss, Phish, Taylor Swift, Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Deep Purple, Rod Stewart, or 30 Seconds to Mars (just to name a few), then you know the work of Producer Bob Ezrin.

I was listening to Bob on a podcast and my attention was grabbed by his take on how he approaches accountability with his artists:

“I never criticize. I start with the positive. I listen to what we’ve done, and point out some moments that I truly think are brilliant. Then I ask ‘Is it alright if I hold you to that standard?’ Inevitably they say Yes.”

What a wonderful human-centered approach. Setting healthy boundaries is key. Every artist needs to hear the info in their own nuanced way. Too often as leaders, we fall into the lazy trap of “one size fits all” and then wonder why people aren’t “getting it”.

Accountability comes from clarity, which helps someone understand how their unique contribution fits the larger idea. That helps them feel impactful and increases their desire to make a difference.

Rock on!

Alan