Do You Really Need To Hold Yourself Accountable?

Some might read the statement above and say to themselves, “No, absolutely not! I got this, and I don’t need anyone else telling me what to do!” After all, the reason you have strived for leadership is to lead, not answer to someone else right? Whether through management, or firing your bosses all together and starting your own business, you have made the decision that you know everything and there is nothing more you need to learn from someone else or a group of someones criticizing you for what you did or didn’t do in YOUR business. 

“Wait a minute” you say, “that’s not what I meant.” 

No really, we get it. If the consequences fall on your shoulders, then who has the right to tell you when you have not accomplished a goal that YOU set?

The truth is, if you absolutely feel the same as the statements above, you probably need some accountability in your life more than anyone else. One of the most important things that separate successful business leaders from the unsuccessful business leaders, is the understanding that they need to be held accountable. Goals are set, and in the moment, you were so excited about a new idea that you didn’t even stop to think if your goals were attainable. Half way through the process of striving to achieve your goals, you realized you were probably going to fall short, however you still believed, and kept pushing forward. You had questions along the way, but everyone knows that leadership is lonely, and it is just part of it to not have anyone to confide in. The end date comes and what once was an amazing idea, ends up being a hit to your ego. 

Think of the wasted time, and stress you could have avoided if you only had someone else like yourself to hold you accountable from the beginning. People who have the ability to look at your situation from a different perspective. Leaders who would never tell you that you were going to far, but instead help you to understand what was attainable based on hard facts. 

There are many ways to have help with accountability. Some business leaders choose their husband or wife to be that accountability partner. Sometimes this causes complications in the household, and only you know whether your relationship is the kind that can hold you accountable without it being personal. Joining networking groups, such as a local chamber, can be a good way to find like minded business leaders. Sometimes it can be difficult to discover what other person’s motives are. Some are there to develop relationships, and others are there to sell you something, but with a little time and patience, you could make a connection with someone that way. The best solution is to seek out specific groups of others who share the same common goal as you, who are already together for the purpose of supporting each other. To save time and effort, make sure the group focuses on the areas of business that you also focus on.