“A culture of accountability makes a good organization great and a great organization unstoppable.”
– Henry Evans
If you’ve been following my content in the last month, you know I’ve been unpacking a few of my favorite key strategies for goal achievement. Throughout these posts, I’ve offered tips for setting yourself (or your organization) up for success.
You’ve probably noticed that a few of these tips have come up more than once. Let me start by clearing the air and answer the question I know you’ve been wondering:
No. I have not gone crazy or simply forgotten what I’ve written.
When I choose to repeat an idea or a tip, I do so intentionally because I believe the strategy I am sharing is that important. It is worth highlighting more than once.
One such strategy is this:
Successful people seek accountability from others.
Let’s unpack this further.
Accountability simply means answering for your actions (or lack of action.)
Here’s the truth:
Our days are simply a series of choices, one after the other. We choose how our time, energy and resources are spent. We choose which habits we will continue and which we will let go.
From the moment you step out of bed until the moment you fall asleep, you are making choices that, in some way, will either move you closer to or further away from your goals.
This is where the importance of accountability comes into play. According to Steven Covey, “Accountability breeds response-ability.”
In other words, if you know that you will have to give an account of your actions, you are far more likely to make positive choices that will move you towards your ultimate goal. You are less likely to say “yes” to distracting behaviors or bad habits that may impede your progress if you know that someone is going to ask you about it.
Accountability can come in many different forms. It might be a small group of people you check in with regularly. It could be a coach or mentor that you meet with. Or perhaps your accountability partner is a friend reaching for similar goals and is able to offer both accountability, reinforcement, and validation along the way.
There isn’t a “one size fits all” when it comes to choosing your source of accountability, but here are a few keys to keep in mind when looking for an accountability partner:
- Reliability
Having an accountability partner is pointless if you never actually talk to him or her. As you think about people that could serve as a support, choose someone that has the availability to consistently check-in with you.
Tip: Schedule a recurring weekly or monthly time on the calendar to talk with your accountability partner. - Expertise
As you evaluate your goals, it can be helpful to seek accountability from someone who has an understanding of what you are trying to achieve.
For example, if you are trying to grow a business, it’s helpful to seek an accountability partner who also owns their own business. This person will be better equipped to offer targeted advice, support, and encouragement that someone who has no familiarity with your goals.
- Comfortability
A good accountability partnership is marked by openness, vulnerability, and honesty. Choose someone that you are comfortable being open and honest with about your progress, even if the information you have to share isn’t entirely flattering or good. It should also be someone that you are comfortable receiving honest, constructive feedback from without becoming overly defensive. (If your partner won’t call out your excuses when you make them, or hope you see your limiting beliefs, they might not be a good fit for the “job”.)
If you are looking for the support and accountability of a coach, click here to sign up for a free strategy call to discuss how I might be able to support you in achieving your goals!
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
