Copy of Let’s Talk About the Scariest Word of All: Accountability

Accountability can be a scary word. We might not like to hear about where we are slacking in our personal or professional growth and journeys, and it can be easy to ignore our own red flags. However, it’s time we face accountability head-on. There is no better way to improve than to acknowledge our faults. 

So, let’s dig into accountability and see if improvements can be made. 

Are You Accountable for Your Actions?

What do you say when you are late for a meeting? “There was so much traffic!” Or what about when you miss the deadline on an important project? “The client never answered my questions, so I couldn’t finish.” If you answer questions like these with an impersonal, outside response, you are likely not being accountable for your actions. 

Accountability is taking responsibility for your actions – good or bad. If you miss a deadline, you must be accountable for it. “I did not follow up with the client and did not get the data I needed to finish on time.” Then, you can work to come to a solution. “I will reach back out and finish by the end of the week.” It doesn’t sound as nice when the fault is your own, but being accountable will help you learn, grow, and set better expectations and goals for yourself moving forward. 

What Accountability Looks Like 

Accountability is not just about owning up to your mistakes. It is also about setting realistic goals, adhering to plans, and creating a journey for yourself that you can live up to. At the end of the day, being accountable is only there to help you. When you are accountable, you consistently achieve your goals (big and small), you are reliable to your co-workers and employees, and you continue to grow and develop both personally and professionally. Accountability is your way of becoming a stronger leader, entrepreneur, business owner, team member, and person. 

Signs That You Need to Improve 

It can be challenging to see if you need to work on your accountability, but there are some tell-tale signs to keep an eye out for. 

1. You Have Not Achieved Your Recent Goals 

If you have had a few goals looming over your head for quite some time, they are likely unrealistic, or you are not holding yourself accountable to achieving them. 

2. You Blame Others

If something does not go your way or something you were responsible for falls through and your first instinct is to blame someone or something for it, you are not accountable. It is essential to look inward and see what really happened. 

3. You Make Excuses

We are all prone to making excuses. If I don’t want to exercise, I can easily say it’s because it’s cloudy and it looks like it will rain, but it’s really because I don’t want to, and I am choosing not to exercise. I need to own up to that and be accountable. Excuses will only prolong my growth. 

4. You’re Unfocused

A lack of accountability can result from an unfocused mindset. If we are not invested in ourselves and the goals we have set, it can be easy to become unfocused and uninterested. 

How to Become Accountable 

Once you acknowledge you are not accountable, it is time to fix it. You must be accountable for your lack of accountability. Here’s how you can do that. 

Assess Your Current Goals and Make New Ones

Your lack of accountability might stem from unrealistic goals. If you are setting goals that you can not measure or are irrelevant, it makes sense that you haven’t achieved them. It could be time to reevaluate and plan some new goals. 

Monitor Your Speech and Take Responsibility

Start watching what you say. If you hear yourself start to say an excuse, blame someone else for your mistakes, or degrade yourself, take a step back and rethink your next words. If you want to start being accountable, you need to rethink how you talk about others and yourself. This is your chance to start taking responsibility. 

Set Clear Expectations For Yourself 

If you want to grow, you have to think realistically. Setting clear expectations can ensure that whatever goals you set and new habits you choose to form are based on what you can truthfully do and accomplish. This will help you avoid any itch to give an excuse or blame others. 

Get an Accountability Partner 

If you want to work on your accountability from the ground up, the best thing you can do is partner with a coach who can help you. Sometimes, it takes more than just us to make a difference, and sometimes, we need guidance or a sounding board to start creating effective change in our lives. An accountability partner can help assess where you need help, develop strategies and plans to better yourself, and keep you responsible for the journey ahead. A partner can become an amazing ally. 

Do you still think accountability is frightening? That’s okay. An accountability partner might be just what you need. If you have further questions or want to connect with your own accountability partner, send me a message or contact me through my website, Marvin Carolina Jr.