When setting goals and planning the execution of those goals, it is easy to get bogged down in time management techniques, planning documents, and productivity apps. However, there is something that is often missing from this mix — accountability. This blog explains what accountability is, why it is important for increasing the likelihood of achieving goals, and what can be done to introduce accountability into daily professional and personal life.
What Does Being Accountable Mean
Accountability means accepting responsibility for your actions. It is also about making agreements with other people — an accountability partner — and establishing a commitment with them to do something. By doing so, you have a way of tracking your progress and ultimately increasing the likelihood of success.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology has shown that you are more likely to achieve your goal when you share it with someone, as long as that person is of higher status than you or someone you respect.
Some productivity experts have also asserted that when you consciously decide you want to complete something, there is a 20% chance of achievement. However, when you share your goal with someone the likelihood of success increases to 60%, and when you regularly check in with someone the chances increase even further to 90%.
Benefits of Accountability
There are further benefits that accountability and having an accountability partner will bring. An accountability partner will help you to:
- Overcome roadblocks — by asking questions and encouraging you to work out solutions to problems
- Stay focused — by removing the things that distract you and take you off course
- Validate your approach — by providing a sounding board to bounce ideas off, check your logic, and make decisions that can be backed up with justifications
How to Find an Accountability Partner
If you find yourself at the end of each day with your to-do list untouched, the chances are that you are putting others before yourself — a common pattern for people pleasers and a significant reason why many people do not achieve their goals.
Establishing a professional relationship with another person will help you to understand the reasoning behind your behaviour. Questions an accountability partner might ask you include:
- Tell me more about that
- How did that feel for you
- What triggered that
What to Look for in an Accountability Partner
When choosing an accountability partner, look for someone with whom you can be vulnerable, who will challenge you openly, who you can trust, who has an objective viewpoint, who you feel confident with, and who is of higher status than you or someone you respect. It is advisable to avoid using family members as accountability partners, as someone from outside your personal circle is a better choice in order to keep the relationship professional and focused.
Anything Is Possible
It does not matter whether it is a work goal, a sport goal, or a significant life goal such as building a house — accountability applies. Having someone you can trust who can motivate you, create a plan with you, and navigate that plan alongside you will lift you out of your comfort zone and stretch you to achieve what you may have thought was impossible.
How Professional Academy Supports Your Journey
All Professional Academy learners benefit from dedicated tutor and mentor support throughout their studies. Mentors work alongside learners to help them stay on track, overcome challenges, and build the confidence to achieve their professional goals — a form of structured accountability built into every programme.
Whether you are considering a CIM marketing qualification, a sales qualification, or a management qualification, Professional Academy offers a supportive learning environment with over 27 years of experience in professional training.
To find out more, explore the full range of professional qualifications or book an advice call at a time to suit you.
