by Delia Rusu | Featured Contributor
Wikipedia definition: “An accountability partner is a person who coaches another person in terms of helping the other person keep a commitment.”
Ahh, commitments… We tend to make them, but then things come in the way and we cannot always keep them.
You may want to get that book written, lose those 10 extra pounds, eat healthier, or write the sales copy for your new program or service.
And here’s what usually happens:
You start all excited and happy, really committed to your goal, and talking about it with everyone who’ll listen.
Then your enthuse fades away, you talk less and less about it, until you’ve even forgotten what you were supposed to do and by when.
Has this ever happened to you with a goal that you had or a commitment you made?
Perhaps you had a great idea to start a new program, but you’ve lost yourself in planning, overthinking, and then you got distracted by another idea.
Never got much traction for that program at all, but you keep thinking about it and how you’ll continue where you left off. Some day…
That’s where the accountability partner comes in handy. He or she can really help you stick to your goal and get it done.
And the funny thing is… they don’t have to someone official, like a real coach. Though that works too and by all means I recommend you get one when you feel ready.
However, as I learned this year, accountability partners can come from the most surprising places.
For example, one of my goals this year was to spend more time in nature. I wanted to be out every day for at least 30 minutes, no matter if it was hot, freezing, rain or hail.
And you know that saying:
“When the student is ready, the teacher comes.”
Which in my case no one other than our very own puppy, Charlie.
A puppy needs to be out every day, and so how convenient that my daughter, after 2 years of begging, convinced us to get one!
Here in Canada where I’m from, we had a pretty nasty winter, with lots of days of -40 C, not to mention a bad ice storm, and also snow until the end of April. I know, crazy, right?
Well normally I’d stay inside in such weather and I’d only get out to walk two meters to the car, then drive to where I needed to. Not so much for exercising and spending time in nature, right?
And I would have done this walk to the car thing this year too, had I not had Charlie, who needed to go out every single day to play and do his stuff 🙂
So here I am: out every single day, because I have to. At the beginning, I was complaining a bit (OK, a lot), but then I realized this was what I wanted and needed, an accountability partner to help me stick with my goals.
So what commitment do you need to keep?
Do you want to write a book? Write down how many pages per week and ask a friend to call you every Sunday to see how you’re doing and to chat about your struggles.
Do you want to go to bed early so you can sleep more? Ask your kid to come get your from your computer when it’s 9 PM. This will give you time to relax a bit and spend some time with them before bed.
Do you want to lose weight? It does not have to be very hard like following a complicated diet plan! In fact, you can get a dog, or you can borrow Charlie for a few weeks 🙂
And yes, the photo in this post is Charlie and me enjoying our daily walk in a nice summer day last week. After all that tough winter weather, me made it! 🙂
Your turn!
What’s your next goal and commitment that you need to keep? Who can be a good accountability partner? Let me know in a comment and share so others can benefit!
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Delia Rusu – Guarding your blog genius at Blog Formatting – Toronto, Canada, and worldwide
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16 Replies to “Accountability partners come from different places by @blogformatting”
Mark
What a great story Delia!
And to think, had it not been for your daughters persistence, you might not have Charlie to hold you accountable for goals!
And on top of the fact, that you know you definitely need to see to it, that Charlie gets out daily!
What a great built in accountability factor! No need to skype, IM or texting required!
No formal sheet to fill out. What a great story and thanks for demonstrating how, as long as we’re open to the possibilities, we can find whatever we need to achieve our goals.
And sometimes in the most unconventional ways!
Delia @ Blog Formatting
Agreed Mark that things evolve in the most interesting ways sometimes 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
paula schuck
I have never heard of this – it seems like a smart idea though especially for people who need the motivation of staying on track. Actually I think I have a couple of friends who could use this idea.
Delia Rusu[ Post Author ]
Paula, we all need them. If you’ve never tried it, go ahead and see what areas of life/business may need some help reaching goals. Find some accountability partners and you’ll see results!
Elspeth
I realized recently that I do this for my clients all the time – did you finish this? Can you send me that? We need to do this. An AP can also be called a coach, project manager, strategist or consultant – anyone who keeps your ball rolling.
Delia Rusu[ Post Author ]
That’s an extra bonus for your clients, Elspeth. They are very lucky to have you to also serve as accountability partner!
Nolan Collins
Good ideas here Delia! Right now, my accountability partner is my wife and Trello! But she and I both need help getting off the computer – sometimes it’s 1am and we’re still working! I think accountability also comes down to time management, which is an area a lot of business owners have trouble with as well, as we all wear many hats.
Delia Rusu[ Post Author ]
Anybody can really be an accountability partner, Nolan, you’re right. Just as long as it helps us keep commitments. Thanks for your comment!
Llyane @FrenchOnSkype
I have so many accountability partners!
I work with them as if they were my business partners – so easy to work, to plan and to track.
I love all my accountability partners and we’ve worked for years now.
Delia Rusu[ Post Author ]
I’m happy to hear this system works great for you Llyane!
Amanda Pickett
I’ve been putting off going to face-to-face networking events forever…you’ve inspired me to find an accountability partner for that. (Otherwise it’s just not happening!) Thanks!
Delia Rusu[ Post Author ]
Amanda, I strongly recommend you get one, it’s really helpful. For you, someone who attends such events and can “take” you there would work best. Good luck!
Leanne Chesser
I love your story about Charlie and congrats on getting out in nature every day. The forced thing really helps :). I need that with my challenge area of fitness/weight loss.
Delia Rusu[ Post Author ]
You’re absolutely right, Leanne! It is forced until it becomes a habit and then you do it without being “pushed”. Thanks of your comment!
Eva Synnergren
Thank you for reminding me Delia, I do have a couple accountability partners in work – but we have to go back and figure out how to do it the best way. We used to have a google chat once a week, but that was to often and then we dropped it. So I have to go back to my partners and see how we can improve.
Delia Rusu[ Post Author ]
Eva, too funny! It sounds like you need an accountability partner to keep you accountable to each other, haha! good luck with everything! You know you can always count on me to be your partner 😉
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