⏳ Estimated Reading Time: 6–7 minutes

By William F. Nazzaro, founder of The Time to Lead Institute, leadership expert, performance and executive coach, and trusted advisor to leaders navigating transformation and cultural change.

Why Accountability Fails: The Responsibility Crisis in Leadership

Is accountability driving performance in your team—or stifling ownership? What’s meant to inspire action often turns talented people into passive bystanders.

A coaching client of mine was leading an agile transformation, but their team was struggling with clarity and alignment. Their first instinct? Create a RACI model—a document mapping out who was responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed for each task.

Instead of fostering ownership, the structure backfired. People stayed in their lanes and waited for instructions—doing only what was assigned, nothing more.
Despite their efforts, they had unknowingly created an environment of compliance rather than ownership. Agile techniques alon...

By William F. Nazzaro, founder of The Time to Lead Institute, leadership expert, performance and executive coach, and trusted advisor to leaders navigating transformation and cultural change.

Some books don’t just land in your lap—they grab you and refuse to let go. In 2024, that’s what happened when I picked up The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford.

I’ll be honest—I didn’t stumble upon this book alone. My coach and mentor, Paul Martinelli, told me, “You need to read this.” He had that look that said, Trust me, this one will mess with you—in the best way possible.

I wasn’t prepared for what followed.

This book challenged and wrecked me.

And I’m not exaggerating. It took me months to get through, which is crazy because I can usually knock out a book in a week or so. But this one? It wouldn’t let me speed through. Every chapter was like a mirror, reflecting things I wasn’t ready to see. Some days, I had to put it down, take a deep breath, and say, Not today, Debbie.

But...

By William F. Nazzaro, founder of The Time to Lead Institute, leadership expert, performance and executive coach, and trusted advisor to leaders navigating transformation and cultural change.

Have you ever felt like you’re running in circles? You’re busy—so busy you barely have time to think—but at the end of the day, you wonder what you actually accomplished. I’ve been there. If this resonates with you, you need to pick up Greg McKeown’s Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.

This book made my top two reads of 2024 for a reason: it’s not just a book. It’s a call to action to simplify your life and align your choices with what truly matters. Let’s dive into why Essentialism hit home for me and how it can transform your life, too.

What Is Essentialism Really About?

At its core, Essentialism is about getting crystal clear on what’s most important—and unapologetically letting go of everything else. It’s about doing less but doing it better. McKeown doesn’t sugarcoat it: most...