ACCOUNTABILITY IS HARD!
A new year is upon us, so naturally, most people I know and work with are starting the new year with new goals and aspirations. That’s wonderful!
What’s more challenging, though, is the accountability required to achieve those goals.
Ever heard the expression “Old habits die hard”?
That’s because habits are well-established neural pathways.
Like a well-worn path, they are the path of least resistance. So, naturally, people will do what’s familiar and accessible when things get a little uncomfortable, even if it’s not aligned with their new goals and aspirations.
According to Mindtools, when you're personally accountable, you take ownership of situations that you're involved in. You see them through and take responsibility for what happens – good or bad. You don't blame others if things go wrong. Instead, you do your best to make things right.
Personal accountability holds us together when our old habits and patterns kick in. It can look like this:
A written/communicated plan
A community of supporters who are aware of your goals with whom you value and trust their feedback
Clarity about your values, vision and mission (who are you and who do you wish to become)
Celebratory milestones (example: I get to do this when I accomplish this)
Micro-goals (more manageable and achievable goals)
Performance analysis (this is a toughy since it requires a significant amount of self-awareness unless it’s an analysis from an external party like a supervisor)
So, why is accountability so hard?
My theory is that there isn’t a soul alive who loves to hear that what they’re doing is not working or in alignment with their goals and aspirations. NOT ONE. Even if the feedback is 100% accurate, it’s always hard because, for the most part, we believe that what we do at every moment is the best we can do. But that’s not always the case.
Accountability is essential – even critical in some cases.
Whether personal or professional, accountability breeds excellence ensures ownership and responsibility, supports the culture you’re in, builds trust, establishes agreements, supports individual and collective goals, empowers others, and supports a new reality.
Accountability is a good thing!
Abby Wambach, a successful American soccer player, Hall of Famer, Olympian and author, once shared that her coaches’ feedback was like an investment into her future self. So without it, she would interpret it as no longer worth investing in. She didn’t always like or agree with the feedback, but she also knew that they had her best interest at heart and that their feedback was a way to hold her accountable for who she aspired to become. She accepted feedback and accountability like her life depended on it. And it did!
I love that story and have shared it countless times in coaching sessions.
So, I ask you:
What goals or aspirations do you have for yourself (if any)?
What accountability measures have you set up to support your goals and aspirations?
How willing are you to accept feedback to hold you accountable? Be honest!
And, how can you test that? (get ready to be triggered)
As always, I’m here for you and happy to support you.
Let's create an extraordinary 2022.
