Accountability is NOT the Big Bad Wolf
Judgement. Obligation. Pressure. Consequence. Are these some of the words that come to mind when you think about accountability? Well, think again, without rolling your eyes.
Accountability is not the big, bad wolf. It’s an essential part of building a business with ease.
Accountability is a Business Owner’s Best Friend
Accountability gets a bad rap sometimes.
No one is going to force you to apply an accountability plan to your business, but no one else is going to maintain and grow your business for you, either.
But when you use it to your advantage, it takes you from a hustle mindset to one of structure and intention. And, prioritizing and creating a plan ahead of time reduces decision-making fatigue.
Setting new goals and creating a task strategy with realistic action steps creates momentum. It provides clarity on how your task calendar will look and demonstrates that your expectations are attainable.
Self-Accountability is a Superpower
When I advise my clients about developing accountability for themselves, I talk to them about self-accountability - owning their choice to honor their commitment and achieve their desired goals. You have to be willing to accept responsibility for what you decide to do or not do.
I haven’t said anything about enforcing, insisting, or demanding, because holding yourself accountable is a choice. But who suffers if you don’t get your stuff done? The same person who wins big if you do - YOU.
Let’s take a look at the consequences of not having an accountability strategy:
It’s too easy to play it safe and stay under the radar, settling for the status quo.
Your expectations are unrealistic, but you don’t know that until you’re in the moment. Then it’s too late to rectify.
Procrastination becomes the spreading weed in your accountability garden, and you have no idea how to get rid of it.
When something unexpected derails your day, it sets you far behind because you’re already scrambling to catch up.
You spend more time stressing over what you should be doing next and how you’re going to find the time to do it, once you even figure out what the next thing is.
So the words that should really come to mind with accountability are: Guidance. Structure. Reliability. Consistency. Preparation.
There are other options besides self-accountability. You can have peer accountability with a partner or a networking group, or professional accountability through a coach or group program.
How Accountability Helps
Here’s what accountability can provide when you take part in it:
You know what you need to get done, how you’ll do it, and what results you are aiming for.
It diminishes the anxiety of flying by the seat of your pants and just winging it.
It will eliminate the time and effort you spend on distracting and unproductive activities.
When you are accountable for your actions, you learn to value your work. Clarity strengthens your confidence in what you can actually accomplish.
It allows you to improve your strategy for getting things done.
It makes it easy to fully take on the CEO role in your business.
And let’s not downplay the real and positive consequences of successful accountability. You’re just as accountable for any successes as you are for failures. I strongly recommend setting rewards for tasks you finish and goals you achieve. Accountability is a choice that helps you respect the limits of what you can get done, and then plan accordingly to realistically achieve your vision.
Are you ready to choose accountability and its positive outcomes?
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