Accountability Partners

Often we have great intentions of making changes in our lives - whether personal or professional - and then life gets in the way, or we get "stuck." It happens to all of us. How can we avoid this? One great way is to have an "accountability partner." This is someone we make a commitment to support and encourage, as well as ask the tough questions, as we move toward our goals. Each partner holds the other person accountable to stay on track with the action items committed to for the following week (more or less often is possible, but a week between "check-in" sessions is ideal).

How would this work? An example is for Partner A to tell Partner B what she plans to do in the coming week before their next meeting (phone "meetings" are easier to fit in than in-person meetings, and can be as short as 5 minutes per partner). At the next meeting, Partner A shares what she accomplished, what she struggled with, and how she plans to move forward in the coming week. If she is stalled in her progress or if she is ignoring something that she committed to, it is Partner B's role to ask about it: "What about X?," or "Are you going to do {whatever actions were committed to}?"

There may be good reasons that Partner A did not take those actions; however, Partner B needs to make sure those reasons are not excuses to avoid whatever task was committed to. This can be done by gently asking questions, and reminding Partner A that this was what she said she wanted to do. (Since Partner A asked for support in reaching her goals, this is not "nagging" but rather constructive support.)

Then Partner A provides the same support and accountability to Partner B. This feels like encouragement, and both will want to celebrate the progress of the other partner.

An accountability partnership can be structured for a short-period of time (e.g., 90 days), or for a longer duration (e.g., 6 months or more). Most people find they make more significant progress - and faster - toward their goals with an accountability partner.

Colleen