Leadership is not about titles, authority, or being in charge. It’s about taking ownership. At the heart of every successful team or business lies one powerful trait: accountability. When leaders lead by example and take full responsibility for their actions, their words carry weight and their teams thrive.
I am sure you have heard the old adage that a leader takes responsibility for the mistakes of the team and give the team all the credit for good results.
We often think of accountability as something imposed on us, rules to follow or results to report. But real accountability isn’t about blame. It’s about integrity. It’s about standing by your decisions, learning from your mistakes, and showing up consistently, even when things don’t go as planned.
At Hirsch's Homestores, this is something we take very seriously. As part of the management team, I’ve always made it a priority to develop leaders who don’t just manage tasks, but who take full responsibility for their stores, their people, and the customer experience. We constantly remind our team that the most powerful form of leadership is leading by example.
I encourage our managers to own their departments like they would their own business. That means being hands-on, proactive, and solution-driven. When something goes wrong, we don’t play the blame game. We ask: “What can I do to fix this?” and “How can we improve?” It’s about finding solutions and using challenges as learning opportunities. The team are taught to look in the mirror, point to themselves and say “if its to be its up to me!”
A leader who practices accountability creates an environment where others feel safe to do the same. It builds trust. It encourages transparency. And it sets the tone for high performance. When people know their leader isn’t above accountability, they’re more likely to hold themselves to a higher standard too. Just a small example, when the team know I am coming to their branch, all the ladies wear make up, wash and style their hair that day and the men make sure they are cleanly shaven, beards trimmed and shoes polished.
Being accountable also means giving credit where it’s due and owning up when you fall short. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being honest, open, and resilient. Mistakes will happen. But a leader who says, “This was on me, and here’s how I’ll make it right,” earns far more respect than one who dodges responsibility.
At Hirsch’s, we strive to create a culture where every team member, from the sales floor to the boardroom, understands the value of accountability. We’re not just building a business. We’re building people who are proud to take ownership of their work, their relationships, and their growth. Because when everyone steps up and takes responsibility, incredible things happen.
Much Love,
Margaret Hirsch
Margaret Hirsch is the Executive Director of the Hirsch’s Group, the largest independently owned Appliance and Electronics retail outlet in Southern Africa that is now in its 45th year. She is already the enviable recipient of many international and local awards for her business, social and charitable work which has uplifted communities around the country. For many years, she has been heavily involved with Women and Youth Empowerment projects throughout Southern Africa. Margaret is passionate about women in business and entrepreneurship. She runs networking clubs at all her branches for Women In Business, encouraging mentorship programmes. Her door is always open to women who want advice on how to make their businesses grow. www.margarethirsch.co.za
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