Not motivation, but holding yourself accountable will get you to your goals.
Despite what most people think, reaching your goals isn’t about doing things when you feel motivated; instead, it’s about doing them because you have self-accountability.
Now, it is by no means easy to hold yourself accountable, especially if you happen to be the one who keeps talking yourself out of something or someone who acts more off feeling than discipline.
What Does Accountability Mean?
We hear the word ‘accountability’ a lot in the world of personal growth. It means taking responsibility for your progress and acting according to your goals.
It’s basically the intrinsic motivation to stick with your goals, whether you feel like it or not. But for those who find it hard to be accountable, getting another person to be your accountability partner can help.
Why Holding Yourself Accountable Is So Important
Accountability is key because if there isn’t any, then your goals fall apart, along with the steps for getting there.
This is because if you are externally motivated only, then you tend to burn out. In other words, being accountable goes hand in hand with personal growth. You stop making excuses and start making progress with proactive behavior.
Let me give an example: suppose someone wants to lose weight; holding oneself accountable, in this case, would be keeping track of working out, the kinds of foods consumed, and keeping yourself on the right track or adjusting the workout plan to suit you best.
The Benefits Of Accountability In Professional Development & Personal Growth
Whether your goals are professional or personal growth, accountability definitely plays a huge role in whether you reach those goals or fail.
- Better focus and clarity – Accountability ensures every action taken in the pursuit of their goals is in agreement with where one wants to be. This gives clarity and focus.
- Motivation – Knowing someone is there checking in with you for follow-through this keeps you committed even when challenges arise.
- Time management – With accountability, you will prioritize your tasks more efficiently.
- Personal growth – Since you are constantly checking in with yourself and your progress, this helps with self-reflection and refining your actions.
- Confidence and resilience: Achieving your goals will give you greater self-confidence and resilience. Over time, you will prove to yourself that you are, in fact, capable of doing the hard stuff and building resilience.
Being Accountable Vs. Being Motivated – What’s The Difference?
Being accountable and being motivated are two different things that most of us confuse with each other. This isn’t to say accountability can’t get you motivated, though.
Motivation is like a sugar high, it feels great but often will not last long; you might feel it right after a TED talk, for example, or when listening to motivational music.
Accountability is structured in routine and actions, and it is about showing up, even when you really don’t feel like it. You can think of motivation as the fire starter and accountability as what keeps the flame burning in the long run.
How Coaching Helps With Accountability
Okay, who hasn’t been there, setting the alarm for 6 am to go work out and then hitting the snooze button in the morning, only to wake up later with regret? Let’s face it: Holding yourself accountable isn’t always easy.
That is why having a coach can be life-changing. Coaches help you set goals and follow up to make sure you are on track by setting regular check-in sessions and offering guidance when needed.
Besides that, coaching helps you learn internal accountability and helps in long-term personal growth and success.
Reach Your Goals Faster With A Personal Growth Coach
By being committed to an accountability partner or coach with regular check-ins, you will be able to reach your goals as high as 95%.¹
As you can clearly see, holding oneself accountable is important to meeting your goals, but having a coach alongside supercharges this.
Where you want to lose weight, meet your professional development goals, or simply build better personal growth habits, getting a coach to hold you accountable will provide the support that keeps you on track.