Who Holds You Accountable?

Everyone needs to be accountable for his or her actions. When it comes to public accountability and the things we do in everyday life, we have the law, ethical standards, our own morals and values, and the expectations of society to use as an accountability check-in.

Plus, we usually have family, peers, and sometimes, even strangers who make us stand up and take responsibility for our actions. It’s not vastly different in business; there’s business law, ethics, company policies and the expectations of our clients and colleagues.

You simply have to be accountable for what you do, or don’t do, when you’re in the public eye, regardless of how large or small the “public” is.

Got Personal Accountability?

As you set goals and outline plans for moving yourself forward in work and life, accountability is key. You have to hold yourself accountable for the commitments that you make in order to see a positive change.

The problem is that our own personal accountability frequently comes after everything else on our plates. We live up to our responsibilities with our clients, groups we belong to, volunteer initiatives we’re a part of, our family commitments, and any other aspect of our lives where someone else is counting on us. That doesn’t leave a lot of time for conducting our own personal accountability check-ins.

Call in Reinforcements

The truth is that even though it can seem impossible to carve out enough time to focus on your own personal commitments, it’s necessary if you want to continue to grow and develop. Some of us are better at finding time for personal accountability than others, but almost all of us can benefit from calling in reinforcements.

One of the best ways to increase the odds that you will hold yourself accountable and give your own personal goals the attention they need is by bringing someone else in on the process.

By teaming up, you automatically make your personal accountability public. Now, your own goals and efforts measure closer on the priority scale to the rest because you have an accountability partner expecting action from you. It’s not so easy to let your responsibilities slip when you have someone who will call you on it.

Accountability Partner Options

Your best match for an accountability partner is someone who is willing to make a commitment to support you in your growth and development. This person should understand where you are currently, where you are aiming to go, what resources you have available to help you get there, and when you intend to hit the target.

A good accountability partner is someone who is honest, focused, respectful and dedicated. Your partner could be a coach or mentor, a colleague, a collaboration partner, or even a family member. Make sure you respect the person who will be holding you accountable so you can take and apply their constructive criticism.

For a mutually beneficial effort, become an accountability partner for him/her. It will be easier for both of you to commit to the process and see it through when you both have so much to gain.

Who’s Your Partner?

Do you have an accountability partner to keep you on track? How do you work together?

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