One of the biggest problems that people have with achieving their goals is not having enough accountability. The problem has never been about doing something, but more about why you’re not doing it.
It is easy to slip back on your resolutions when you do not have enough motivation. The only way to make your resolutions stick is to create a system of accountability for yourself.
But what does “accountability” even mean in your situation? Can it even be accomplished? Of course it can.
This article will explain to you in no uncertain terms about how you can take responsibility for your actions. Taking accountability from the moment you awaken in the morning to when you end your day is key.
That’s what this article is all about. We’ll talk about not only how, but why you make excuses for putting things off. And how to fix it.
We’ll lay down the best advice for reclaiming your goals. Remember, all the coaching and promises on the planet can’t help you unless you want help. This article is about you. What you want, and how you can get it.
Let’s check out how to create accountability for yourself.
Ways To Hold Yourself Accountable
The reasons vary greatly for why people struggle to reach their goals. The main underlying reason is that they find it easier to not be accountable. Without accountability, it’s so much easier to make excuses and give up when you run into obstacles.
The list below is more than just some simple rules to follow. They are proven steps that will help you focus on getting your goals accomplished.
Take your time and read each step carefully. Understand what each step means. Then read them again. You can bookmark this article, print it out and stick it to your wall, etc. As long as you commit to the steps, that’s all that matters.
Know Your Why
Let’s just be honest here: people miss their goals. There are as many excuses for this as there are hairs on most people’s heads. For the most part it happens because people can’t answer the “Know Your Why” sentence.
“Know Your Why” is a question to ask yourself when you don’t know why you need to do something. Whether you want to lose a few pounds or start a new business doesn’t matter. Unless you can answer “why” you want to do it, you probably won’t want to do it.
“Know Your Why” is key to building motivation. It helps you to formulate a goal and commit to it.
Write Everything Down
When you can see your goals in front of you, it’s an instant motivational kick in the rear. Literally, you’ll be able to see your goals every day. Put them up on a wall. Add your goals to your phone’s note taking app and set an alarm to show you them all the time.
When you see your goals written down before you, that’s when you know it’s not a game. You’ll also learn to adjust your plans if you need to. Take accountability and hone your ideas and goals to get them done. You’ll thank yourself for doing this.
Identify Your Personal Mission Statement
Your personal mission statement is a declaration of who you are and what you’re about. It’s the theme for your life, ambitions and goals. It’s your focus.
It’s the underlying reason for your existence. When you can effectively identify what your mission statement is, you’re able to live a more fulfilled life.
Your goals are plans for achieving something you want. While there’s no guarantee that you’ll reach your goal, there is a better chance if you identify it as a mission statement. How can you reach for something that you really want in life unless you are willing to go for it?
Reward Your Accomplishments and Milestones
You can be your own best friend or your own worst enemy. Never try to turn yourself into your own worst critic.
If you want to keep your goals and dreams alive and achieve them, you need accountability. This means that you have to hold yourself accountable for your actions and this can be done by rewarding yourself for reaching certain milestones.
For example, say your goal was to lose 5 lbs in ten days but you only lost three. At least you are committing and being accountable for losing weight. That’s a great thing!
Whether it’s a new pair of running shoes or getting your nails done, a small reward can help keep you motivated.
Create Micro-Goals
You aim to lose 20 pounds, but wake up every day and make no move to make that happen. If you do this, you’ll never reach your goal. The same is true for business goals that you want to accomplish.
If you aim to do too much too soon, you’ll crash and burn. Your goals must be realistic and you must take it one step at a time.
Creating micro-goals is an important step in reaching larger goals. They can help keep you on track when there are a million other things vying for your attention (and your precious time).
Try adding smaller steps (micro-goals) to reach your main goal. You’ll find that tackling large, ambitious goals in increments will be much easier to accomplish.
Review Your Performance
You’ve made a decision to improve in some area of your life. Whether starting a business, working out more, or just eating better, you are moving on with your goals. Maybe you’ve even reached out to an accountability partner to help you stay on track.
Congratulations to you! Now, ask yourself: am I holding myself accountable? If you’ve been writing down your progress and reviewing it regularly, you can easily review your performance. Your notes and journals offer you a huge opportunity to improve.
Review your performance and identify areas where you can improve. Analyze both your current performance and historical performance to find key areas to grow.
Seek Feedback From Your Team
Feedback is an essential component of growth—from self-improvement to professional development to just about anything. While some people are always open to feedback, others can be pretty defensive.
The trick is knowing the right way to give and receive feedback without offending the other party. Sharing your feedback with your team is an excellent way to improve performance and get people working towards your shared goals.
However, it can be tricky to get the feedback you want when you aren’t sure what to ask for. To help you get the most out of your feedback sessions just be yourself. Always be honest when asking your team for feedback.
Value Editorial
Why Is Self-Accountability So Important?
If you have ever set a goal for yourself and failed to achieve it, you are not alone. One of the most common reasons people don’t reach their goals is a lack of self-accountability.
It is easy to make excuses for why you can’t do what you know you should do. Whether you didn’t have the time, the money, or the energy, it is never too late to make a change in your life.
The key to reaching your goals is finding a way to overcome your lack of self-accountability. Focus on you, not what others want you to do.
How Does Accountability Lead to Success??
Accountability leads to success by leveraging your greatest asset: you. When you commit to being accountable and complete your goals success will come naturally. Just the fact that you are now able to focus on your goals and accomplish them is success in itself.
Whether for personal goals or in the world of business, accountability leads directly into success. Accountability keeps you from making small and big mistakes.
This is especially true when at your job, where your particular skills can make or break a project.
In your personal life, completing a major (or not so major) task that you have listed is so invigorating.
Is Accountability a Strength?
The answer to that question really depends on your viewpoint of what accountability is and isn’t. In many ways accountability can certainly be considered a strength.
Like any muscle, you have to exercise your ability to become accountable.
By building up your accountability strength, you can forge everything associated with it.
Goals, desires and dreams can build in strength as you become more and more successful. This is how powerful accountability can become. Once you decide to become accountable, your motivation can spark your ability to grow.
So, is accountability a strength? You better believe it is. One of the most powerful you can have.
Conclusion
As you’ve read from the article, creating accountability for yourself is your ticket to success. As with anything in your life, you are key to any goal you want to accomplish.
It’s common to feel stuck in life, and to wonder why you couldn’t accomplish your goal for that day. Everyone suffers and everyone has bad days, but it’s how you deal with this that defines you. Follow the steps above, create accountability for yourself and conquer your goals!
Making excuses won’t help you, which is probably why you’ve read through this entire article. It’s time to do something about reaching your goals. As long as you remember that you have the ability to create accountability for yourself, you can do anything.