Who is holding you accountable right now?
Is anyone holding you accountable or do you find jumping from one priority to the next and working in a firefighting mode?
Whether you are working for yourself or you’re running your own business and you have a team of people (employed and/or freelancers), chances are you so busy working in your business, you forget to work on your business.
You are busy juggling everything, the demands of your clients, customers and suppliers, but what about the direction of the business and the goals you set yourself? Have you abandoned those ideas because you are too busy working 24/7 or maybe you’re busy procrastinating?
However you answer these questions, chances are you are reading this and thinking, “yes, I know what I need to do but… something else always crops up”.
This is where an Accountability Partner could make a huge difference in the direction of your business.
What is an Accountability Partner?
This is someone who is going to support you, they will understand what makes you tick, help you to achieve your goals and they will challenge you.
Often it works better if the Accountability Partner isn’t a member of your family or a friend because the tactics they use to support you will be objective whereas someone who is close to you, might also tell you what you want to hear!
5 reasons for using an Accountability Partner
- To hold you accountable!
- To keep you motivated.
- To challenge you.
- To measure your success.
- To celebrate with you.
1. To hold you accountable!
Yes, this is the most obvious of reasons, Accountability Partners will help to keep you on track, but they will also understand you and what makes you tick.
If they understand how you work, what is likely to cause you to go off on a tangent, they can help to keep you on course and will stop you from procrastinating. No more excuses for not doing something.
The focus is on what you need to to do to achieve the results/outcomes you desire.
2. To keep you motivated.
When you don’t feel like you’re winning, it’s easy to become distracted, but having someone who understands you and your business can help you to stay motivated.
Business (and life) doesn’t always go to plan, but knowing you have someone who gets what you do, you can bounce ideas around and use the accountability partner as a sounding board.
3. To challenge you.
Yes, you are confident about what you do but how about taking some calculated risks?
An Accountability Partner can offer a fresh perspective and encourage you to try different approaches as a way of testing your plans, pushing you out of your comfort zone.
4. To measure your success.
A good Accountability Partner will figure out the best approach for you. Whether it is creating milestones or KPIs, there are different ways to help measure your progress.
5. To celebrate with you.
An Accountability Partner will be excited about your wins, no matter how big or small. They’ll feel proud of you because they will understand what you went through to achieve your goals.
When you’re looking for an Accountability Partner, think about what is important to you.
Do you want someone who understands your industry or someone who can bring different perspectives from their own experiences? Or maybe you would rather have someone who has shared values and understands what you’re about.
From my own experience, I love working with peers who have shared values but experiences different from my own because it really challenges my thinking. It also helps me to grow as a person because I learn at the same time.
Think about what you need help with.
What goals have you set yourself?
What strategies are you implementing to achieve your goals?
Are you seeing results or are you feeling frustrated?
Do you currently have a business friend who is holding you accountable? Are they helping you or is it more of a box-ticking exercise to check you’re making progress?
How I can help.
Yes, I am supportive and I want you to achieve your goals, but I won’t tell you what you want to hear. I will call you out on your excuses!
I sometimes get a reputation for being bossy but it is because I am like a dog with a bone, once you’ve said you’re going to do something, we will agree on the deadline and I will chase you to make sure it happens. There will be no hiding.
I will act as a sounding board, someone to bounce those ideas around with. There’s nothing worse when you are trying to figure everything out on your own, no matter how awesome you are, sometimes it helps to talk your ideas through with some one who will be objective and will challenge you but at the same time, will help you to figure it all out.
I have experience in managing people and making sure stuff happened, it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, it’s about figuring out the best approach for you.
About Louisa van Vessem
Hey there! I’m Louisa, and I’m all about teaming up with freelancers, business owners, entrepreneurs, and contractors to help ignite your journey to success.
Think of me as your go-to creative companion, business confidante, and your personal sounding board and cheerleader, all rolled into one. My goal? To serve up a mix of awesome ideas, strategic wisdom, crystal-clear guidance, and a dash of accountability and camaraderie. We’re not just about the destination. We’re all about enjoying the ride and keeping things refreshingly simple and fun.
If you’re on the lookout for a friendly guide to help navigate your business adventures, I’m all ears! Let’s grab a virtual cuppa and chat about the exciting possibilities ahead. Can’t wait to connect!
Let’s connect on social media
Don’t worry, I’m not spending lots of time on social media, I repurpose content across channels at different times.
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