“Accountability breeds response-ability.” 

Stephen R. Covey

What’s missing?

We all know that accomplishing a worthy goal requires knowledge.  But how many times have we met people who have developed a knowing expertise around some subject but don’t seem to be able to apply that knowledge to their own benefit or competence.

For example, we have all met that person who knows all the effective science of exercise—proper cardiovascular development, strength training technique, flexibility and stretching, the importance of warm-up and cool down—but it is evident that the closest they have come to personally applying that science of exercise physiology is the trudge to the cozy couch and the many TV session repetitions.

This is the time of year when people begin to evaluate and prepare to develop or reaffirm goals or achievements they wish to accomplish. A new year lies before us.  Full of promise. Plans are made. Intentions are stated. But, for many, just a few months down the line the air has been let out of the bag. Maybe the intention is still strong. The hope is in place. But the actions are wanting.

The intention could be anything that is important to an individual’s personal journey.  To get in shape, learn to play a musical instrument, make a career change, start a journal, develop public speaking skills, become a volunteer…if it is important and valued enough for you to verbalize and set goals for, then it is important enough to succeed in its accomplishment.

Again, we have the plan, we developed the knowledgebase and expertise—what’s missing?

Once you reach a competent level of knowledge and experience acquiring more knowledge seldom is the missing link. Studies have pinpointed what’s missing between goals and success. Accountability. Human performance experts have shown that being accountable — to someone or something — may be the key to the lock.

“Accountability is the acknowledgment of responsibility for your actions with the obligation to report, explain, and be responsible for the resulting consequences.”

Nate Green, Precision Nutrition 

In other words, accountability keeps you consistent because you have to report back what you’re doing — or not doing. In fact, accountability is more important than personal motivation for this simple reason:

No one always feels motivated.

Accountability establishes that powerful practical value to achieving our goals and or overcoming problems or issues. By itself, accountability requires a tremendous amount of character, courage and honesty. Being accountable is not an easy thing to do or ask for.

Accountability can come in many forms.

Where it is most powerful is when it comes from commitments we have made with ourselves, specifically as written goals.  To develop accountability arround and in support of  these goals it is often a good idea to seek an accountability partner.

Accountability partner—someone you can trust and respect.  Someone that you can confide in with your struggles, weaknesses and insecurities as it relates to the goals and growth we intend to achieve. You must respect and choose this person wisely.

According to Daniel A. Janssen, Practical Planning Publishing,

“A good accountability partner should be able to ask you clarifying questions, offer encouragment and support, and hold you to your commitments.

An accountability partner can help you get a reality check on your goals.

Sometimes a gap between intention and action occurs because our expectations are out of line with what we can realistically accomplish.

Have a regular check in with your accountability partner about the progress you’ve made towards your stated goal…this helps motivate toward taking action, so you have something to report, and increases your awareness of what your spending time on.”

5 Benefits To Having Accountability

1. Accountability accelerates your performance.  You can work the kinks out of your plan, develop a sure-fire winning strategy and execute with confidence, knowing you have been guided by the best to achieve your goals.

2. Accountability helps you measure your success and progress.   Define what success looks like and set milestones to measure your progress along the way. You can easily track how close you are to reaching your goals.

3. Accountability keeps you engaged. There are things that will come up that will distract you from your goals and take you off course. Knowing that you have to answer for your progress will keep you going to the finish line.

4. Accountability will keep you responsible.  You are ultimately responsible for how much progress you make every day. Accounting for your actions weekly will cause you to take a good look at yourself, start eliminating the excuses and start making deliberate actions that bring about your intended success.

5. Accountability will validate your thoughts and ideas.  When you have someone to be accountable to you can silence your inner critic and bounce your ideas off someone else who can help you make sound decisions and give you constructive advice.                                                       Stacia Pierce, Success Mastery Coaching Program

 “Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual you have an obligation to be one.”

Eleanor Roosevelt