Leadership requires more than directing teams and completing goals. Sadly, the truth is that too many leaders continue to think this way.
In my experience, the leaders who make a difference build a culture of accountability and community, ensuring everyone plays a meaningful role in collective success. They foster an environment where people don’t just show up—they engage, contribute, and thrive.
Vince Molinaro, New York Times bestselling author and CEO of Leadership Contract Inc., drives this home in his latest book, Community of Leaders: What It Takes to Drive Strategy, Culture, and Change. One standout for me is how he draws from the Amish tradition of barn raising—where a community comes together to build something none could do alone—Molinaro argues that authentic leadership comes when everyone is part of the mission.
“We need to raise barns together,” he says, reminding us that leadership is about cultivating shared accountability to achieve something greater than ourselves. I’ve been to an actual barn raising in Ontario—and Molinaro is spot on. It’s quite a remarkable experience.
Leadership and Accountability
Accountability isn’t something you can just throw onto a to-do list. In my time as a Chief Learning Officer, I’ve seen leaders treat accountability like a dirty word—something to dread or, worse, something to delegate. However, leadership accountability is about creating a culture where responsibility is a shared experience, not a burden.
Molinaro hits the nail on the head: “Leadership accountability is about making sure people commit to what they’ve agreed to do.” He adds, “It’s also about leaders creating a high-accountability culture where individuals understand their responsibilities and are held to them.”
Research from Culture Partners supports this view, with 85% of employees unsure about their organization’s goals and 93% unable to align their work. Meanwhile, 84% of respondents said leaders’ behavior is crucial to driving accountability, yet only 15% of leaders successfully communicate key results, causing widespread confusion and failure in holding others accountable.
In any organization, silos are like that coffee shop that refuses to share their Wi-Fi password—uncooperative and downright frustrating. Molinaro rightly observes, “Organizations struggle because they operate in pockets of power,” which only leads to internal politics and inefficiency. He’s spot on: silos stunt growth. A big part of leadership is tearing down these barriers and replacing them with bridges.
Silo-Busting: Overcoming the Greatest Threat to Organizational Performance
Research from de Waal et al., Silo-Busting: Overcoming the Greatest Threat to Organizational Performance, confirms the point. The researchers found that 97% of companies reported silos negatively impact their performance. Yet, when silos get dismantled, and companies foster cross-functional collaboration (aka: bridges), they are 36% more likely to outperform competitors in terms of profitability.
Molinaro’s metaphor of barn raising perfectly illustrates the point. “Like a barn raising, where the community comes together to build something significant, leaders need to unite their teams,” he says. If you don’t have everyone pulling together and collaborating, you’re stuck hammering alone on a frame that will never stand. The barn never gets built.
Leadership Characteristics That Build Strong Communities
Leaders who build strong communities also embody the traits that inspire trust to drive accountability. “True leaders build a high-accountability, high-community environment,” says Molinaro. “They’re not just focused on individual results—they care about their teams and the overall culture.”
In my experience, empathy goes a long way toward building that kind of culture. People need to know their leaders have their backs. As Molinaro points out, “Leaders must be community builders. They must care about the collective good, not just their own agenda.”
But it’s not just about empathy. Humility is critical, too.
Molinaro reminds us that “a humble leader is willing to admit when they’re wrong.” Leaders who admit mistakes foster trust and transparency. That’s leadership in action, not perfection.
And let’s not forget clarity—without it, accountability falls apart. “Clarity ensures that everyone knows what success looks like and how to achieve it together,” Molinaro explains. Clear direction means fewer fumbles and more focus.
Building a Community of Leaders to Drive Strategy and Culture
Molinaro believes in the power of developing leaders at all levels—not just the folks sitting in the corner offices.
“Leaders need to focus on developing other leaders at all levels. When everyone in the organization understands their role in driving strategy and culture, true accountability takes hold,” Molinaro asserts.
When you build a community of leaders, you’re not just making your team more agile—you’re creating a resilient, adaptable culture that’s ready for whatever comes next. “A community of leaders,” says Molinaro, “creates a culture that is resilient, adaptable, and primed for sustainable success.”
Ultimately, leadership accountability isn’t about finger-pointing or checking off responsibilities. Think of it as building a community of current and future leaders who thrive on shared purpose and collective effort.
Molinaro’s vision in Community of Leaders pushes us to rethink leadership as an act of building something together—where everyone has a role to play. As Molinaro reminds us, “We can only succeed together. Leaders create a lasting impact when they build a community that holds itself accountable.”
It's a real barn raising.
Watch the full interview with Vince Molinaro and Dan Pontefract on the Leadership NOW program below, or listen to it on your favorite podcast.
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