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The other day I managed to read a dozen or so different models, approaches and bits and pieces of guides to business and personal growth, development and success. The good news is that there is a ton of information available to us now through the magic of the internets on how we can achieve any dream or goal. Advice ranges from full on woo-woo spiritual to pragmatic, scientific approaches that would warm the heart of the most no-nonsense, unemotional spreadsheet lover out there. You can pay thousands for a guru's system or you can read any combination of the thousands of free blogs out there.
Trying to make sense of a way to weed through all this information, I did an informal survey of some friends to ask them what they most need from all this advice. The one consistent answer was how to be accountable.
You can stay stuck in reading, wading through all the approaches and languish in analysis paralysis. Many of us do because it is easier and, even if painful, less painful than taking action. You can't win if you don't play but you also can't lose. Often we know what to do and it is just a question of finding a way to actually doing. That's where the accountability comes in.
It is hard to motivate ourselves to take action when we are stuck or afraid. It gets easier to procrastinate or read some more. If we are accountable to someone then we are much more likely to take action, complete tasks and move forward. Once that happens, amazing results can appear.
So how do we hold ourselves accountable?
1. Blogging
Blogging is a great way to keep yourself accountable. You announce what you intend to do to your community and ask them to hold you accountable. Personal finance and weight loss bloggers are two communities who have used this method to great success. Blog accountability works best when you have a strong, loyal community of consistent readers who will gently nudge you when you slack, check up on your progress and cheer you on when you make progress.
Debbie Cook at Stitches And Seams: Keeping Myself Accountable
Jenny S.: Keep Me Accountable
2. Forums
Finding a space where community can support and encourage each other works for many. I read a description of an internet-based training course and some graduates said that one of the biggest values they got from the course came from the accountability forum one of their classmates started. The mutual butt-kicking helped them complete their project of building a business developed through the course. Such classes aren't like when we are in grade school or college where we need to succeed in our classes in order to move to the next level or get a good job. If we pay the money and don't complete the work we cheat only ourselves. Being accountable in a forum setting where you can go and get a dose of inspiration and motivation from others with similar goals can be just what you need to get a move on.
BlogHer Member FaMissWomen.com: Set Goals, Make Friends in the Process: Announcing Accountability Girlfriends
Accountability Girlfriends Network
3. Partners or Coaches
You can hire a coach to hold you accountable or find a partner and be mutually accountable. Whether it is a study buddy or a life coach having someone who knows you personally, has your phone number and email and possibly even knows where you live in case you need some emergency encouragement can be just the ticket for the train out of procrastination-ville.
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen at Quips and Tips for Achieving Your Goals: 5 Ways to End Procrastination for College Students
Jennette Fulda at Pasta Queen: Be Barb's weigh-in partner
Tentative Equinox North: Sunday Personals: Seeking Accountability Coach
4. Mastermind Groups
Inspired by Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, masterminds are groups that meet regularly to brainstorm, encourage and hold each other accountable. Some are groups that meet together for free while others are run by a leader and require a fee to be a part of. Those fees can be rather large for leaders of groups where participants have spectacular business results. Groups generally hold members accountable by rotating leadership if there isn't a designated leader and kicking people out if they miss a meeting or two. I've never participated in such a group but from what I've read, honesty about your goals, actions and progress seems to be a key to success. And such honest I would imagine would result in
