How to Use the Accountability Cycle

We discussed in the last episode the key to realizing high levels of achievement was having a clear understanding of what your 20% is related to your job/business. Those activities, that if not done consistently would eventually lead to you going out of business or losing your job. These are the core responsibilities that require your attention and consistent execution. Now that we’ve talked about (and will be working on) identifying these key areas, the next step is to set ourselves up to win by weaving in an ample amount of vitamin A with your 20%.  As I reflected on the last episode, I realized the importance to raise our awareness around this as they both tie into one another...and...typically, one without the other prevents maximum results.  Many of us may be aware of our 20% and yet lack accountability OR tend to have an accountable approach to their daily lives and lack clarity on that 20% activity is to lead to 80% of your results.

Vitamin A is for Accountability.  We’ve all heard about the importance of accountability and yet, when we all do an honest assessment of our lifestyle,  find very little evidence of having solid, effective accountability in our daily lives.  Defined: The opportunity for an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept full responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner.

“Accountability is the glue that ties commitments to results.”

“It is easy to blame others when things are broken...the hard part is recognizing the role you played in it all.”

“Either you make yourself accountable, or you will be made accountable by your circumstances.”

I’d like to look at this two ways...we hear about “being accountable” and  “some who is accountable”.  I think being accountable is an outside-in approach. Meaning, you are doing this for someone else,  its external & often not fully sold out or on board - often with some level resentment.  When we talk about someone that is “accountable” I see this as in inside out approach.  You’ve decided, accepted, and on your own terms chose to be accountable to whatever task, project or goal that is in front of you.  

This is typically when you have a clear picture of the end result, the benefits of taking such action. In the end, the person that comes from an “I am accountable” frame of mind. These people live the accountability lifestyle and take this approach in all things they do

Let’s look at the five stages of the accountability cycle:

Now let’s look at the opposite, what are the five stages of the victim approach...

What can someone do we avoid a victim mentality?  

The research is very clear on this - be open to accountability.

EX: The effect accountability has on goal setting - Individuals that don’t write down their goals rarely if ever accomplish them.

Individuals with written goals were 39.5% more likely to succeed.

Individuals with written goals and weekly accountability were 76.7% more likely to succeed. That doubles your odds of meeting or exceeding your goals!!

The 11th commandment: Thou Shall Not Kid Thy Self

Accountability isn’t optional -  We can fall to into the trap of thinking accountability is optional.  Meaning, if we don’t “intentionally” decide to accept accountability into our lives we are somehow avoiding it and therefore, it doesn’t exist. We all have a choice; we can allow accountability to find us by default or we can take it head on by choice.  Many years ago I was listening to an audio program; they were talking about the “hard road and the easy road”.  That when we think we’re avoiding what is “tough” or “hard” by taking the easier road, we’ve essentially avoided facing whatever this may be.  When in reality, taking the hard road in most cases gets easier, and the easy road gets harder.  We all know people that live their lives by tackling things head on, facing whatever comes their way and have an “if it’s meant to be, it’s up to me” attitude.  We also know people that constantly are looking for loopholes to get out to doing what’s necessary, and ways to beat the system.  Here’s the bottom line, what I came to realize years ago...the only way out is through.  When we are willing to face the work, obstacles or whatever may come our way, just put our heads down, blinders on and get on with it, knowing the results will be worth the effort - knowing the shortcut is to go through and not around what may be challenging us.

5  tips to establish and incorporate accountability into your business/life.

1. Accept you can accomplish what we set out to do - in less time when we adopt living the accountable lifestyle.  Do so on purpose or by default.

2. It’s a fact; we are more likely to stay the course if we have an accountability partner(s) that are willing to take a stand with us for what we’ve set out to accomplish.

3. Establish accountability standards and boundaries upfront and review regularly.

4. Be Creative - have some fun with this.  

5. Always be looking for new accountability partners. Turnover can be high, don’t let this discourage you