Recently, I took on a new role in my business as a goal coach for a local business empowerment group for women.
Along with coaching each Monday during a scheduled group call, I also helped the director create an accountability program.
Fun stuff.
Now, I already know first-hand how important it is to set structured, written and manageable goals.
And, in helping clients get organized for my business, I know just how important accountability is.
When clients are organizing with me, the accountability of having an appointment scheduled with someone is the catalyst for progress.
So, I’m not just helping with the accountability program, I’m also in it.
And, wow, having an accountability partner to answer to weekly is really helping me move forward in my own business.
Here are some of the ways it’s helping me:
Every Friday after our accountability phone call, we type up our goals for the next week in a Google Doc so we can see the other person’s goals.
The document is also set up for us to type our “intentional action steps.”
This part alone has been huge for me. Every week I have to think about what I want to accomplish, verbalize it and put it in black and white.
Writing down my action steps has been so beneficial because I can break big projects down into very specific, small tasks that are easy to knock out.
Suddenly, a big project is now a bunch of very small parts and pieces. As you accomplish each small part of the bigger project, it’s exciting to see progress and the end in sight.
Knowing I have to answer to someone other than myself really pushes me to work on my tasks so I have progress to report.
It can be very easy to get busy and put projects on the back burner and before you know it, a week has passed with no progress.
The extra accountability is helping me make sure I keep working on these goals throughout the week and it keeps them on my mind.
It’s helping me pull out “dream” projects and start making headway.
Each New Year, we come up with big “to do” items, projects or changes in our businesses that we’d like to implement.
But then the day-to-day work happens and it’s common for those big, dreamy projects to sit on hold.
Working on my goals with an accountability partner has helped me bring out those goals, dust them off and start making progress.
Encouraging someone else to reach their goals is good for me, too. It’s a good feeling to know that advice and encouragement that I’m giving is having a positive impact on another business professional.
I also hope that being a good example is another way I’m encouraging my accountability partner.
Sharing my advice as a goal coach each week forces me to review the importance of goals, time management and focus management so I can share it with others.
We often have to hear the same information over and over to keep ourselves on track and it helps me too, even if it is my own advice.
I like checking off a ‘to do’ list, so typing in the word “done” next to each of my tasks is motivating for me.
There’s so much to be said about receiving support from someone else to help you reach your goals.
Having an accountability partner also applies positive pressure on yourself to complete the tasks you committed yourself to.
If you’re struggling to meet your goals, I’d recommend connecting with someone you trust to help you put your feet to the fire, give you feedback and share words of encouragement.
Monika Kristofferson is a professional organizer and productivity consultant who owns Efficient Organization NW in LakeStevens. Reach her at 425-220-8905 or monika@efficientorganizationnw.com.
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