Hello there,
People who get a lot done would agree; in order to get things done in life, a person MUST be accountable for what they commit to getting done.
In creating habits – powerful habits that help the world, accountability is essential. We have to ‘get things done’ by taking action every day for at least 21 days. This is not easy for most people. Behavior change – creating or breaking new habits is very challenging for most people.
Accountability makes it easier. We’ve got to build in a system of accountability in order to be successful with creating new habits.
Here are 5 powerful questions; answer these daily and you will remain on the narrow but sweet path of ‘true accountability.’
Assuming you have committed to getting certain things done and you are now attempting to get and stay in action, ask yourself: (Ask these questions while sitting still and as relaxed as possible.)
1) What (exactly) did I say I would do today (this week/month and year)?
It’s important here to be SPECIFIC about the action steps you said you’d take in a given time period. The broader you remain, the less likely you are to take action or be held accountable.
2) What have I done – actually started and/or completed from this list? For the successes, have private moments of celebration and for the misses, take note of exactly what was left undone.
3) Who have I acknowledged this to? It is essential to acknowledge where we have fallen short – to our self, to God and certainly it would be helpful to acknowledge this to team members and accountability partners. “Public” (anything outside of you and God) accountability is powerful. It works to help you be humble, forgiven and able to move forward with light efficiency.
4) What are the consequences of my NOT getting done what I said I would get done? Outline and detail all you are responsible for in terms of project timing, life impacts and personal/team losses. It is easy for many people to get caught up here in the emotional state of regret and remorse and even worse, self-sabotage. AVOID it! Accountability is empowering IF we do it right and permit the process to work.
5) What are my next steps? If you got caught up in your emotions of feeling badly about the prior steps, take time now to FORGIVE yourself so you can move forward with potency. See Forgiveness Ritual here. What’s done is so done. The only thing you have power over now is to take the next action steps. What are those? Determine exactly what needs to be done to compensate for what was left undone, then re-commit to your next steps.
If any adjustments are required to the overall plan, this is the time to be flexible and do what must be done to ensure your success.
Accountability is a powerful process that ensures our success…but ONLY if we work it right. If we permit ourselves to get bogged down in too many layers of reporting, recriminations and regrets, we will be easily side-tracked into a quagmire of negativity. Then what we are likely to do is avoid the entire process of taking action as well as being accountable. That is a slippery slope into little-to-no productivity.
So use these five questions daily if needed and you will remain accountable and productive as you create/maintain a powerful success habit that is essential in every area of your life; accountability.
Have fun!
Wishing you an abundance of success,
♥~