Want to Start Achieving Your Goals? Get an Accountability Partner!

Want to Start Achieving Your Goals? Get an Accountability Partner!

According to John G. Miller, author of QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, "The lack of personal accountability has resulted in an epidemic of blame, complaining, and procrastination. No organization - or individual - can achieve goals, [or] compete in the marketplace ... without personal accountability."

A great way to create accountability is by finding an accountability partner, a fellow business professional whom you trust to act as a goal-setting mentor. The purpose is to provide feedback, new perspectives, and especially that nudge we need to JUST DO IT.

Accountability partnerships work best when you meet regularly to report your successes or failures around your specific goals. Sometimes, this is all the motivation even the most hardcore procrastinator needs to finally get their act together.

Characteristics of a Good Accountability Partner

1. Your accountability partner must be someone reliable, whose opinion matters to you; in other words, you would feel terrible about letting them down.
2. He or she must be willing to ask the hard questions. For example, if you failed to meet a particular deadline, he/she would be willing to ask, "What got in the way?" "Is that a justifiable excuse?" "What will you change to make sure it doesn't happen again?"
3. Your accountability partner must be willing to extend consequences if you fail to achieve your goals - not as a punishment, but as a further motivation to meet your goals the next time.
4. He/she should be someone who will challenge you, engage you, and inspire you toward a sense of accomplishment.
5. Confidentiality should also be a key consideration.

Characteristics of a Poor Accountability Partner

1. Because you will only be accountable to someone whose opinion matters greatly to you, a friend/loved one is probably not the best choice. Sure, we care what our friends/loved ones think of us, but we're so close to them that we may not regard their opinions or words as binding.
2. Someone who is uncomfortable asking the hard questions or is afraid to ruffle your feathers is unlikely to make a good accountability partner. While their goal isn't to piss you off - if you miss a deadline, you need someone who will get in your face a little bit, not just let it slide. Another reason a friend/loved one is a bad idea - you don't want to lose your relationship because this person was simply doing what you asked them to do by holding you accountable.
3. A person who can't or won't provide consequences is not going to be terribly helpful.
4. Anyone unable or unwilling to keep your confidences should be immediately discounted as a good accountability partner.

With all the challenges in today's real estate market, it's easy to avoid/neglect important goals, particularly if you're reporting only to yourself. An accountability partner gives you greater motivation, if for no other reason than you'd hate to let them down. The most effective partner will use the perfect blend of verbal and nonverbal encouragement to spur you to meet your deadlines and goals.

************************

Do you live in the Phoenix, Arizona area? Are you thinking about making a change in real estate companies? 

Give me a call at 602-595-8900 or e-mail me at anna.banana@cox.net. Let's talk about your marketing strategies - and the best ways to create accountability in your business. 

Phoenix Property Shoppe