“To achieve life mastery and be worthy of a life well lived, we must take action, ownership, and responsibility for our choices. Our date with destiny is not about reaching a final destination. It is about how fully we live the journey.” – Will Craig
Are you tired of setting goals and becoming discouraged or even distracted by the demands life has placed at your doorstep?
Does time seem to be flying by, yet, you feel like you are standing still?
The key to achieving your goals and creating success lies in your ability to remain focused while still responding to the changes and challenges you face each day. One of the best ways to sustain motivation and focus is to find an accountability partner or join a mastermind. This is an individual or group who commits to encourage, support and challenge you. People who will hold you to your commitment as well as help you remain focused and in action. While finding an accountability partner is a step in the right direction, the question is, can a person actually hold another person accountable?
Watch this video as I share a definition of accountability. Learn why having a clear accountability process can be the difference between success and failure.
“Accountability breeds response-ability.” – Stephen R. Covey
Webster’s dictionary defines accountability as an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility. Given that responsibility and self-control are personal, another person can not actually hold you accountable. The role of an accountability partner is to provide feedback on your behavior. The choice to use the feedback to make the necessary changes is to choose accountability. Accountability only works if the parties involved create a clearly defined process for feedback. Below are five steps for creating an accountability process:
#1 – Casting a Vision: The first step is for you and your partner to share your vision for your life and business. This allows you and your partner to be on the same page and have a clear understanding of each other’s true desires.
#2 – Goal Setting: It is important these goals be specific and measurable. Remember, a goal without a number is just a dream. As you outline your goals, you want to clearly articulate what each goal is going to look and feel like when achieved. This will ensure you both are actually moving towards the same thing.
#3 – Developing an Action Plan: Each accountability partner must establish and share their plan of action for achieving their goals. This provides each accountability partner with the roadmap or blueprint each will follow as they move towards their goals.
#4 – Clearly Define Weekly Outcomes: This is the key to the accountability process. Each accountability partner is required to submit in writing the outcomes they desire to achieve for the week and the actions they will take to achieve their desired outcome. During the mastermind meeting, accountability partners are able to ask questions and receive feedback that will improve their action plan.
#5 Execute Your Plan: The final step is to account for your actions. Accountability occurs when you meet with your mastermind the following week to provide a report on your progress. What outcomes did you accomplish? What challenges did you face? What did you learn? Your partner’s sole responsibility is to provide you with useful feedback. Providing feedback in the following areas is most useful: habit, skills, knowledge, attitude, systems, organization, mindset, strategy, communication, and ability to problem-solve. Accountability occurs when each partner receives the feedback and makes the necessary adjustments.
Success and leadership begin with first mastering the mindset, emotions and communication of the person you see in the mirror.
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Suzan Hart is a Mindset Mastery Mentor. She helps entrepreneurs, speakers, team leaders and managers develop breakthrough strategies to overcome fear, navigate change and develop a mindset to respond and innovate when faced with conflict, crisis and chaos.