Summer time is a good time to refocus on essential planning at your agency. You’ve most likely set many targets for the 12 months forward, however it will possibly get lonely on the journey towards reaching them. Having an accountability associate not solely makes the method extra enjoyable, however it should maintain you motivated and forestall you from mendacity to your self or sliding off the rails.
My ladies are at an age after they love bedtime tales. As Winnie the Pooh favored to say, “I t’s so a lot better with two.” While you’re alone, it’s simple to inform your self: “Possibly I’ll simply work on that venture tomorrow.” However when you could have the correct of accountability associate, you’re extra prone to keep on observe and obtain these targets.
The hot button is to have an accountability associate you want and respect. Irrespective of how good and dependable your accountability is, if you happen to don’t respect them, you’re by no means going to be accountable to them. Your accountability associate must also be somebody who’s goal. I don’t suggest asking your partner, sibling or shut pal to be your accountability associate. They’re too prone to inform you what you need to hear, slightly than what you could hear.
The place do you discover an accountability associate? There’s no proper or flawed reply to that query. It could possibly be a colleague or a mentor at your agency. It may be somebody exterior your agency. It could possibly be a CPA at one other agency. It could possibly be an lawyer, advisor or different exterior service skilled you’re employed with. It simply must be a trusted ally to whom you may say, “Hey, I’m going to be reporting to you on this. That is what I’m holding myself accountable to and I would like you to assist me do it.”
And it must be somebody who’s equally dedicated to preserving you on observe.
Instance
I’m a part of an entrepreneurs group with seven different enterprise house owners. We have now a Slack channel known as “Well being & Health.” Day by day, members submit their exercises so we will examine in on one another’s progress. Because of this, everyone seems to be figuring out tougher than they ever have earlier than, as a result of they’re answering to a gaggle (not simply themselves) and so they’re getting plenty of “attaboys!” It’s very motivating. On the flipside, if we see somebody isn’t hitting their commitments, we’ll give them a pleasant reminder to get transferring.
Having somebody on the opposite finish of the road to push you towards your targets may be extremely useful.
Whether or not it’s a enterprise objective or a private objective, having an accountability associate makes you extra conscientious and purposeful in your choices as a result of you realize you’re going to need to report your progress to that particular person.
Subsequent steps
1. Determine a objective. What do you actually need to be engaged on that would transfer your well being, your enterprise, or your private development ahead in an enormous means?
2. Use your time effectively. Whether or not it’s being a greater guardian, partner, businessperson or pal, being accountable to another person shouldn’t be all consuming. Take into consideration a small variety of actions — taking over not more than 4% of your time — may have the largest affect in your life proper now? You’ve most likely heard of the 80/20 rule. Suppose you utilized the 80/20 rule to the 80/20 rule? That gives you the 64/Four rule (80/20 x 80/20 = 64/4). This implies two-thirds (64%) of your outcomes come from simply 4% of your handiest time. My article on The 64/Four Rule has extra.
3. Discover an accountability associate to maintain you on observe to succeed in that objective. It doesn’t need to be an enormous time dedication to your accountability associate or for you. It could possibly be a each day textual content with one another. It could possibly be a weekly 30-minute examine in by way of Zoom, telephone or Facetime if you happen to’re too distant to fulfill in particular person. The hot button is to be ready every time you hook up with report back to your associate about some measurable progress you’ve made towards your objective.
4. Agree on a cadence for accountability. Whether or not it’s a each day, weekly or month-to-month check-in or assembly, be constant about how typically you contact base with one another. Simply make your accountability conferences a daily and constant behavior. No matter frequency you agree on along with your accountability associate, be sure to’re each current on the appointed time and able to share. By the way in which, your accountability associate generally is a group or a person.
Because the previous saying goes: “What will get measured will get managed.”
Make the most of this summer time’s planning season and have just a little enjoyable. Set huge targets and share your progress with somebody you may belief, even if you happen to don’t in the end attain your vacation spot. You’ll develop from the expertise both means. It’s at all times higher with two (or extra).
For extra on private objective setting and accountability see my current articles: