In a few hours I’m going to make a phone call and have a 15-20 minute conversation with my accountability partner. It’s the same type of phone call I’ve made daily for the past several months. It has the same purpose and same desired affects. It’s the perfect collaboration mastermind that brings us to our best self and I would not trade it for anything.
Why?
What is the conversation about?
Who is this conversation with?
I’ll get to all that in a minute. But first I want to give you some insights, revelations and what it means to have an accountability partner.
Do You Need An Accountability Partner?
- Do you ever wish you could get more done?
- Do you wonder what your plan of action is for meeting your goals?
- Do you self sabotage your goals by rearranging the same to do list over and over without taking action on it?
- Do you have limiting thoughts or beliefs creep up in your head and kill any productivity that was once there?
- Do you feel that you could accomplish more?
- Do you put off things that you know you should do?
- Do you wish you had someone to bounce ideas off of and brainstorm?
- Do I need to go on?
- When would NOW be a good time to start?
Some people have a great work ethic and can hold themselves accountable in just about any situation. But that’s just not everyone. In fact you may be surprised that this is not the case for most people. Sure we can all get things done on our own merit. We can finish our action items and feel good about them. But what I’m talking about has more to do with being our personal best than just finishing a to do list.
Now let me dispel a myth here real quick. Having an accountability partner doesn’t mean that your weak or can’t get your work done. It means that you want more for yourself. It means your surrendering your ego and allowing yourself to be held in check by someone else. It means you are allowing yourself to grow as a person and take a little more risk and effort to accomplish those things that are truly important to you.
Having an Accountability Partner increases Your Productivity
Now before you give me a “Duh I knew that” let me tell you what having an accountability partner has done for me.
- I have surrendered my ego.
- I have broken through a few comfort zones.
- I have stayed up late to finish an action item because i didn’t want to show up the next day empty handed.
- I have leveraged a sounding board that keeps me grounded while letting me bring my vision in to play.
- I have stepped more into my leadership by co-creating products with my accountability partner.
- I have accepted good enough instead of waiting for perfect to show up.
- And I have mirrored a few of these things back.
When you want to keep your word and follow through with a project you said you would do, then you will dig just a little deeper to finish it. Even if you have to stay up a little later than normal. You may have to stretch yourself to figure something out right now instead of putting it off. You may have to accept good enough instead of waiting for perfect.
Let that last one sink in a little and let me know if any of this hits home. I’ll even give you a place to leave your comments below this post.
How to Choose Your Accountability Partner
- Here are a couple of quick notes to take into thought when searching for an accountability partner.
- Someone who has the same or similar goals.
- Someone who is in the same field or niche.
- Someone who has the same or similar spirit or drive.
- Someone who understands and appreciates your goals.
- Someone who is not just a yes person.
- Someone who will be fair but firm.
- Someone who can call you on your crap.
Having an accountability partner who can understand what your trying to accomplish and can be that sounding board is vital to the success of that relationship. The fair but firm allows us to be pushed and called out on when we’re trying to just skate by. I mean think about it. If you really want to get the most out of yourself and be the best you can be don’t you think you need someone who can tell it like it is.
You need to have this trust and ground work laid out ahead of time, but let the process work and allow yourself to submit to it. I know this may be a challenge for those type “A” personalities, but I know you can get over it.
Ground Rules You and Your Accountability Partner Should Have
- This needs to be a safe place to share.
- Set a specific date and time.
- Form a commitment and stick to it.
- Follow through with action items.
- Dig deep to find out why you do things they way you do.
- Allow to give and take feedback.
- listen while the other person is sharing and pay attention.
- Respect each other and the process.
What ever rules you and your accountability partner establish make sure you both agree and understand what the bigger picture is. if you really want to bring out your best self you must be open to a little guidance. Know that the other person only has your best interest in mind.
Meet My Accountability Partner
Now comes the fun part where I get to introduce my accountability partner to you.
VaNessa Duplessie has been an entrepreneur her whole life. She is a wife, mother of two, coach and online marketer. VaNessa is also a commu
nity activist and fellow blogger.
In fact she also wrote a post about why you need an accountability partner.
What separates VaNessa from others is her passion to serve and support people in finding their passion and giving it a voice online as well as telling it like it is.
Her honest approach to her brand and online presence has capture the attention of many top marketers.
She has recently been added to the list of potential speakers at No Excuses 3.
If you could take 30 seconds and vote that would be great! She has
received over 100 votes in less than 4 days!
So do me a favor and vote now! Here’s the link again to No Excuses 3.
(voting is open until January 31, 2012.)
As promised there is a place below where you can share your thought about what it means to have an accountability partner. Have you ever had one? Do you have one now? Could you see the benefits of having one?
Ken Pickard
The Network Dad
P.S. Go check out Vanessa’s blog and tell her I said hi, and let her know that you heard she is a great accountability partner!
Hi Ken, It’s the first time I heard about anyone getting or having an accountability partner. Well, I just voted for Vanessa! Hope you to continue to be partners. I’m kind of wondering in which business does your partnership fall into, or into what category if I may ask.
One of my regular commenters serves as an accountability partner of sorts. He helps fill in any knowledge gaps that there might be in my tutorial posts. So I always feel challenged to write well-researched posts to “beat him to the punch.” I always ask myself if he’d have any quibbles with my content before I post it.
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Hi Ken,
I voted for VaNessa! Thanks for making a list of “How to Choose Your Accountability Partner” and “Ground Rules (for) You and Your Accountability Partner”. I can see where an accountability could really help. Some of us need more help than others. Oh boy! I have thought a lot about this lately. Haven’t jumped yet …. but this might just be the push I need.
Is this the first Accountability Partner for you?
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Hey Ken,
I had read VaNessa’s post when she had written about this same topic and mentioned you. I hadn’t know up to that point that you two had known each other that long.
I don’t have an individual accountability partner but I am a part of a mastermind group where we meet every two weeks and discuss what we accomplished during that time and what we want to accomplish during the next two week. We also have each other if we need any help or direction. So far, I’m the only one who has completed all the tasks I’ve put out for myself in the group.
I also meet each week with my team so that we can hold each other accountable for the tasks we said we would accomplish. Once again, we each are here for each other if we need help or direction. So although I don’t actually report to someone daily, I do have a lot of support now and I’ve found it to be extremely helpful.
I’m happy to hear that VaNessa is you partner and I have no doubt she keeps you on your toes. Oh, and I voted for her too. I wish her the very best of luck.
Great post Ken and I think this is something everyone should do.
~Adrienne
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Ken,
I am a big believer in personal accountability.
I think there’s much to be said for having someone qualified review your daily method of business operation. When subjects are “too close” to us, it’s so easy to lose perspective. Having an objective perspective from someone who is sitting just outside of our little bubble is an effective way to be sure we’re aware of the impact of how we spend our time as well as whether we are being most effective.
I will be happy to support VaNessa in her quest to be one of the featured speakers for the No Excuses Summit.
Cat
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Cat,
BAM! There it is…”Someone qualified to review your daily method of business operation.” I should have interviewed before I wrote the post. it’s one thing to have a running buddy, but another one who can call you on your sh*t…in a nice way of course.
Thanks for the vote for VaNessa as well!
Ken
Hey, Ken! I don’t have an accountability partner (yet!), but I clearly see the advantages of such collaboration. Thanks for opening my eyes with your article.
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James,
Your welcome. As you can tell i highly recommend you get one! By the way how’s business?
Ken
Hey, Ken! Sorry to answer so late. Business is fine; it has its ups and downs, but you know how it is. One month you have tons of work, another not so much.
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I’ve had an accountability partner in the past, Ken but unfortunately he moved on to other things, so I am actively looking for a new person. Couldn’t agree more about the benefits of having one.
You’ve made an excellent choice in VaNessa. She is an amazing person and marketer. In some ways, I feel that choosing an accountability partner (or running buddy as I used to call them) is like choosing a spouse — do it wisely if you want it to last long term!
Thanks for getting the word out on this wonderful concept.
P.S. I voted for VaNessa — it was easy like you said. Hope to see her on stage!
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Bob,
You know from experience then. I like the term running buddy as well. If you see Vanessa’s comment you’ll see how Greg (her spouse) has coined the term Work wife. A running joke that fits all to well!
Ken
In life or in business we need an accountability partner who shoulder us in times of our failures. I probably have an accountability partner in life and I hope he will always there in bad times and in good times.
Juliana,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment. These types of relationship can make all the difference in our business if we allow ourselves to be humbled by them. Make the best of them!
Ken
I never thought about this before, but I will have to look at this more closely. There are a few people that have similar interests as me and this is something I should consider. Accountability is something either people don’t want to deal with or they are just too scared of looking in the mirror.
When we network online we do allot of this to some degree in our tweets, and commenting. Even though we don’t work one on one with each other we support each other commenting and this propels us to stay current with posts and content. One of my contributors on my blog has grown to be like a brother and someone I can count on when I am swamped to put out a post. He has been a true godsend and friend. Thank you for reminding me that he is a great blogger, friend and partner.
This was a great post Ken!
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Sonia,
I’m glad you liked the post. Having a good accountability partner does help in so many other areas. You can bounce ideas off each other, strategize over blogs and marketing or what ever you want to do. But the benefits of having someone else holding your accountable is priceless. I’m glad you have someone like this as well.
Ken
Thank you all for your kind words and your votes. So many of you said great things about what accountability means to you and how it works in your life and in business. The comment about the accountability partner being like finding a spouse is actually kind of funny. A few months ago, Ken, myself and our spouses all got together for dinner when my hubby and I were on a trip to California. (Remember, Ken and I are in different states but the same time zone). Anyway we were talking about life, kids, etc and then work came up. Hubby so casually coined the phrase: “Work Spouse” after Ken and I talked a little bit more about our daily calls. Hubby said, “It’s like having a work spouse Ken, someone to push you at work to get things done, just like your spouse does at home.” We all started laughing and agreed.
So, yes, choose wisely but do choose to have someone to count on to help you in your business. It really does make a difference. Congrats to you all for now at least thinking about moving in this direction or looking where in your life you already have the support you need.
Support is what helps us get through the challenges and never give up!
All the best,
VaNessa
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VaNessa,
We joke about that at our house as well. Nancy still asks…”Did you talk to your work wife today?”
All kidding aside, it’s been awesome having you as an accountability partner. So many benefits. It’s good to keep it real as well!
Ken
This is clear and understandable that no one can do a several things at once and can’t perform a multiple job. Account management is like a asset in today business. You have given a such a nice focused and tips to choose a account handler specially i like the tips that you have listed for choosing a account partner.
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Shahid,
Thanks for the comments. That one of the best parts right? No one can do several things at once…and be good at it. the leverage we can bring to the table by holding each other accountable is perfect. Plus we can bounce ideas as well as share new information.
Ken
The simple knowledge that you are expected to report your dream progress each week and discuss your procrastination excuses is enough to motivate anyone.
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Earl,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Yes bringing your best and worst to someone for accountability is a strong motivator. Have you seen the benefits of this yourself?
Ken
Awesome!
Accountability is so important when it comes to productivity!
I think that you showed us a blueprint regarding accountability and what to look in an accountability partner.
Thanks!
Timo
Timo,
It works for those who work it that’s for sure. I’m glad you liked the post. What other productivity tips have worked for you that you would share?
Ken
Ken,
As a part-time work at home dad, I feel that I never have enough time to do the things I want.
That’s why I try to:
- Maximize my available time:
-> Get rid of all the extra tasks off my list and let someone do them (I try to outsource as much as possible)
-> Tweak and streamline my working processes
-> Create systems that help me work faster
- Plan my day:
-> I have a project list and I always try to find on ones to focus on that bring me most of the value as result
-> I try to work as much as possible when my family is sleeping or out of the home
-> Remind myself, if the task I’m doing is really something that I should be doing (does it move me closer to my goals or not)
- Communicate:
-> I try to have regular working times. I also keep my wife posted about my work times, so she knows that I’m not available during those times (unless if there is a family emergency)
- A coach
-> It’s great to have an outsider advising you what you should be focusing on
Cheers,
Timo
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The internet is a wonderful thing that can provide for the shortcomings of the real world. But it sure is lonely. This is generation empty / generation zero and it’s my goal to help people get onto the right path.
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Audrey,
I have built many strong relationships via the internet. It really depends on what you want from the net. Building relationships should be the primary focus for any activity…especially in social media. We don’t need to hide behind a computer just becasue we use one.
Ken
An accountability partner is someone you share your plans and ‘must-do’ tasks with.Your accountability partner holds your feet to the fire and makes sure you complete what you said you would complete.Anaccountability partner is someone who gives you encouragement when you need it, motivation to finish your tasks, and a boot to the ass when you don’t finish what you were supposed to finish.
An accountability partner is a person you do not want to let down.
With an accountability partner you must have something to lose for the plan to work.If you respect you accountability partner a great deal then the friendly competition is enough fire to keep you going.
There are not many things that can increase productivity and motivate you in such a drastic way than having an accountability partner. It is probably one of the single most effective ways to become more productive. No matter what you do, get one!
Take these reasons to your heart and get an accountability partner NOW if you don’t have one!
If you get one, you WILL be much more likely to succeed in whatever you are doing!
To your Success,
Better find myself an accountability partner soon, too!
Hey Ken,
Please don’t think I’m spamming you because I just left a comment in “Introduce Yourself” but I saw this article and had to leave a comment.
I do have an accountability partner. My cousin and I are both trying to get out of the rat race and have different goals to get there.
We talk to each other a couple times a week to see each others progress and to motivate each other.
When I read your article it immediately clicked with me. How cool.
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Thanks Ken for a great post that really got me thinking!
I got to meet VaNessa at NE3, and even sat in a small training with her following the event.
Tom
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