High-performing leaders earn our respect because of their potent combination of technical skill, problem-solving acuity and — perhaps most of all — their willingness to hold themselves accountable to make difficult decisions.

Accountability, after all, answers an essential question:
Can I count on you?

We count on leaders — in government, academia, sports, and business — to make tough decisions.

So we admire and trust a leader who’s willing to make an unpopular decision if we’re convinced their judgment is guided by a moral compass, a compassionate heart and a thoughtful view of what’s best for the long-term greater good of those they serve.

Conversely, people at the top who make watered-down decisions – or no decision at all – appear more interested in preserving or gaining money, prestige or power than in making a tough call to fix a tough problem. These so-called leaders abdicate their responsibility and, in so doing, not only fail to fix the problem but lose our respect.

Santa makes his list every year of who’s naughty and nice.

Now you can make yours. Who’s accountable? And who’s not?

Vote for one of the five leaders who held themselves accountable to making tough, smart decisions in 2014.

You also can vote for one of the five leaders who could not be counted on to step up when it mattered most.
The survey is open until December 26th, 2014 at https://bustin.com/best-worst-2014.

Complete the survey now for an opportunity to win one of 10 signed copies of my book, “Accountability,” named by Soundview as one of the best business books of 2014.

Survey results will be published in January.

Ho, ho, ho!