Americans expect leaders to be accountable to those they lead, not merely to those above them in hierarchies. Followers have legitimate standing to evaluate leadership quality and hold leaders responsible for performance. This upward accountability appears through various mechanisms—elections, feedback surveys, reviews, market responses—but the principle is consistent. Leaders earn continued authority through performance that satisfies those they lead.
When working with Americans, expect that those you lead will evaluate your leadership, and treat their evaluation as legitimate rather than presumptuous. Seek feedback actively. Listen when it arrives. Respond to legitimate concerns. The leader who claims accountability only to superiors and dismisses follower evaluation violates American expectations about how leaders should relate to those they lead.
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