In this, the last in our series on Accountability, we are going to be focusing on how we can improve not only our own accountability and also that of others.
You know me, let’s get practical. What can we actually do to improve accountability?
Well, first and foremost you must be proactive and self-disciplined.
Here are some activities you can do to help you enhance your own accountability
Set Clear Goals: Define SMART goals for yourself. Having clear objectives makes it easier to track your progress and measure success. Prioritize Tasks: Use tools for time management and to-do lists to prioritize tasks based on their importance and deadlines. Focus on completing high-priority items first. MoSCoW is one of my favorites.
Create a Schedule: Establish a daily or weekly schedule to allocate time for different tasks and commitments. Stick to your schedule as closely as possible. If you find it hard sticking to a timetable, use an app or online support system. I’m trying out UseMotion at the moment.
Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Divide larger tasks or projects into smaller, manageable steps. This can make them less overwhelming and easier to tackle.
Deadlines and Milestones: Set deadlines for each task or step, and hold yourself accountable to meet them. Celebrate achievements when you reach milestones.
Self-Monitoring: Regularly assess your progress toward your goals and be honest with yourself about your performance. Are you on track, or do you need to adjust your approach?
Own Your Mistakes: Accept responsibility for any mistakes or failures. Instead of blaming external factors, focus on learning from the experience and improving.
Stay Organized: Keep your workspace and tasks organized to minimize distractions and maximize efficiency.
Seek Feedback: Request feedback from peers, mentors, or supervisors to gain insights into your performance and areas for improvement.
Accountability Buddy: Consider finding an accountability partner who can check in with you regularly and help you stay on track with your goals.
Track Progress: Keep a journal or use digital tools to record your daily progress. This can provide valuable insights into your habits and areas that need adjustment.
Stay Committed: Accountability is an ongoing process. Stay committed to your goals and continually strive to improve your accountability.
Review and Adjust: Periodically review your goals and your progress. Adjust your approach as needed to stay aligned with your objectives.
Reward Yourself: Acknowledge your successes and reward yourself when you meet your goals or achieve milestones. Positive reinforcement can boost motivation.
Remember that increasing personal accountability takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself and continuously work on developing the habits and mindset that will help you become more accountable in your personal and professional life.
Leading by example and working on our own accountability is a great place to start with creating a positive culture around accountability within your team, your business. You know accountability increases efficiency, productivity and quality of work helping you to achieve more so, what’s stopping us from focusing on developing it?
Here are more steps to help you foster accountability within your team:
Set Clear Expectations.
Establish open and transparent communication channels within the team.
Encourage the use of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals.
Hold regular Check-Ins.
Track progress and have a feedback loop.
Create accountability agreements and a system of partners or buddies.
Make sure you talk about and have consequences as well as rewards.
Empower and trust your team to get on with it. Let them focus on the how to do something.
Support with training and development.
Celebrate successes and catch people doing great stuff. Like being accountable
Let me know how you get on improving your accountability. What actions did you take and what results did you get?