Accountability falls underneath two classes: the issues we do and the issues we do not do. We frequently focus on accountability associated to what’s completed, however do you really take the time to carry your self accountable for what doesn’t get finished?

As a pacesetter, accountability begins with you. You set the instance. So, do you maintain your self accountable as typically as you maintain your workforce accountable?

Listed below are three fast tricks to “up” your inside accountability recreation.

1. Don’t break the appointments you’ve set with your self.

We not often set appointments on our calendar with others and overlook, and even cancel, the appointments. Why is it that it appears really easy to interrupt appointments with ourselves? It’s easy to make excuses when the one particular person you’re answering to is your self.

Use your calendar to put aside time for particular actions you’ve dedicated to taking and ensure you’re conscious of the advantages the motion will present. For instance, we advocate setting time apart weekly for recruitment. You count on your sellers to put aside time weekly, if not every day, for prospecting and new enterprise improvement. Recruitment is a supervisor’s equal of prospecting.

Set appointments with your self to search for expertise so that you’re making constant deposits in your expertise financial institution. Use LinkedIn, community with native schools, and join with referrals. What’s the profit to you? When a change happens in your workforce, as an alternative of scrambling to discover a heat physique, you’ve gotten somebody gifted to tug off of the bench.

2. Stop the blame recreation.

Accountability is possession of a end result, however duty includes rolling up your sleeves and getting the job finished. We get annoyed when others aren’t held accountable for his or her duties, however we’re often fast to play the blame recreation once we fall brief on one thing we have been speculated to do. Exterior circumstances, lack of follow-up from others, not sufficient sources, blah, blah, blah.

Positive, possibly the reasoning is rational. It’s inevitable that issues will get in the best way and decelerate the method. Even so, we should preserve accountability for the result, whatever the circumstances. Cease pointing your finger and saying, “it’s best to have,” and as an alternative, ask your self what it’s best to have finished. Keep away from utilizing the phrase “however…” in any respect prices.

You’re not doing your self any favors by sugar-coating and making excuses as to why one thing didn’t occur. Make the most of the scenario by studying from it.

3. Outline your procrastination.

All of us have distinctive procrastination habits. Once I’m procrastinating, I decrease my degree of focus and purposefully enable distractions. What was that notification? Who simply emailed me? What does my schedule seem like for tomorrow? Did my abdomen simply growl? Wow, it looks as if I could have run out of time proper now to finish this venture…

Outline your procrastination habits, no matter they could be, and brainstorm methods to forestall them from taking place. Shut out of e mail and switch off your notifications. Determine while you really get your greatest work finished and reserve that point of day in your calendar.

Set a objective for your self – it’s solely okay to stroll away when you’ve accomplished A, B, and C. And in case you’re nonetheless struggling, ask another person to assist maintain you accountable. Decide to sending them what you’ve completed by a sure time of the day.

Conclusion 

George Washington Carver mentioned, “Ninety-nine % of all failures come from individuals who have a behavior of constructing excuses.” Maintain your self accountable in your actions and commitments. You, and your workforce, shall be arrange for fulfillment.

*Editor’s Be aware: This weblog was initially written in 2016 and has since been up to date.