You can’t manufacture employee engagement with gimmicks – at least not in a sustainable, long-term way. That’s because true happiness and engagement comes from a mindset of personal accountability.

Organizations that reward lazy behavior by refusing to address it ruin their chances at getting the results they want.

Through my consulting engagements, I have an amazing opportunity to talk with leaders and employees at different stages in their careers, in a wide range of professions, in a variety of industries. I pay close attention to their performance, work habits and attitudes, and I listen to their complaints, desires and excuses. What I’ve found is that there are many, many people out there who have given up all hope of being happy at work. They no longer believe that a career can challenge, excite and fulfill them. Granted, these people show up to work every day.

Tabatha Coffey's regularly kicking management butt and transforming businesses on Bravo TV's reality show "Tabatha Takes Over." Here's what she had to say about the biggest problem business owners face, and how to handle tough feedback.

You want everyone on your team to pull their weight. Make that happen by asking the best questions in the most effective way: constructively and courageously.

When leaders, especially high-profile ones, crash and burn, lack of accountability is often the reason--just ask John Edwards. And it could happen to any of us if we’re not careful. Ask yourself these questions to make sure your leadership “check engine” light is working.

We continue to hear people calling for the business community to be more accountable for their actions. Nowhere is this stronger than in the relationship business has with our environment, our planet, and its resources.

It is not often that we look to the Detroit Lions for insights into leadership. But one such moment occurred after the Lions lost to the Chicago Bears when referees negated a potentially winning touchdown in the closing moments of the game. Replays showed that the catch was made but not in accordance with NFL rules.

The U.S. government launched USASpending.gov, a Web site to track billions of dollars in government information technology spending. It's an official effort to be more accountable.