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Accountability can have a powerful practical
value to achieving our goals and or overcoming problems or issues. Being accountable takes a tremendous amount of character, courage and
honesty, especially if you seek an accountability partner for a goal you
desire to achieve. It is not an easy thing to do (being accountable) or ask for
(accountability). Webster's New Illustrated Dictionary defines Accountable; 1. Liable to be called to account; responsible. 2.Capable
for being accounted for or explained. I like how Webster defined accountability
adding the word "responsibility", being accountable is being
responsible. It also has to do with an account, meaning
the facts and figures not the excuses and the stories.
Accountability can come in many forms. Without
being mentioned it is expected in situations like your job or your family.
These are your responsibilities, things in which you are expected to be
accountable for like showing up on time, fulfilling your job description
or being faithful to your spouse. Where it is most powerful is when
it comes from commitments we have made either with ourselves, someone else
or an organization. Written goals can be a valuable source of personal
accountability. That's part of why proper goal setting is so powerful.
When you have clearly identified the goal, created a plan and made
commitment for its achievement that puts a sense of responsibility on your
yourself and if you don't do the things you have planned then you violate
your own integrity. This can cause guilt and depression which motivates us
to achieving our goals. That's why you will never meet someone who is in
the process of achieving goals that is depressed. I tell you we don't need
Prozac, we need goals and accountability.
If you are having difficulty achieving
goals it is often a good idea to seek an accountability partner. Some one
you can
trust and respect. An accountability partner is 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. First and foremost an accountability partner is a
friend not a mother or a nag and certainly not someone who is going to
feel sorry for you and join in any pity parties. He or she is not someone
you share all your excuses with why you didn’t do what you said you were
going to do. They are not someone you dump on or will necessarily give you
any advice. That’s a counselor.
He or she is someone you are serious with. Someone you can trust not to
tell others about the things you discuss or the goals you have. They are
someone that you have given the right to ask you how you are doing in
relation to your goals or struggles you are trying to over come or
achieve. Hopefully they will even challenge you why you are doing what you
are doing causing you to ponder your real motive. They may ask how you are spending your time or your money in relation to the
goals you are asking accountability for and you should give them straight and
honest answers. If you can not be straight and honest then you are
probably not
willing to be accountable yet or perhaps don't quite understand how to
best use them.
Questions I may ask and expect straight answers to, not excuses or
beating around the bush:
1. What exactly are your goals? Can you show me them in print or in
tangible plans?
2. What exactly are you doing to achieve them and can you demonstrate
that? Can you show me books read, classes took, money spent, connections
made, commitments and decisions made, etc...
3. How do you spent your time? Show me your days or last weeks schedule
on exactly how you used your time.
4. Why do you have that goal or this goal?
5. Why do you think this is valuable to do?
6. Why are you doing this or that?
7. Who do you model and what do you know about them?
You can see this line of questioning asks the
who, why, what, where, when questions. The part of accountability I tend
to lean more on is the why questions. To quote Wilhelm Nietzsche "He
who has a why to live can bear almost any how". Once the why is clear
then it simply a matter of the plan to achieve the goal and keeping on
that track making necessary adjustments along the way. What ever your
goals are I wish you the confidence and the courage to dream a big dream,
plan a serious plan and be accountable and responsible in your growth and
development. If you require help along this journey you may want to
consider my Life Goals Planning
Support Package.
Being effective
and on target! |
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