The Best of Intentions, The Worst of Follow-Throughs
I don’t know about you, but I’m full of good intentions. Things I want to do, things I really want to do. Do I always do them? Of course not! Life happens. Also, I can be a master (or mistress!) of procrastination. I can be excellent at putting things off, even if I really want them.
Why I’ll Do It for Someone Else (But Not Always for Me)
BUT, if I tell someone I’m going to do something, I do it. I don’t want to let them down. I don’t want them thinking of me badly. I don’t seem to mind so much about letting me down, or thinking badly of myself, but someone else? No way!
If you really want me to do something, ask me publicly so that I can’t say no. (I will sometimes. I won’t do anything just because I’m put on the spot!)
Is It About Pride? Or Proving a Point?
I’m sure there’s a simple reason behind this. Wanting to save face. As I said above, not wanting to let anyone down. Sometimes you’re proving something to someone (or yourself). There have been things in the past I did because people said there was no way I could. (Again, they were things I wanted to do, but wiping smug looks off people’s faces, that felt good!).
The Accountability Factor
There’s definitely something in accountability though. If you tell someone you’re going to do it, putting it out into the world, it makes it real and it makes us do it.
What Daily Public Accountability Has Taught Me
I’m currently doing something called ’75 Hard’. There’s a health and fitness version (which seems insane! I’m exhausted just thinking about it!) and a business version, which is what I’m doing. I’ve mentioned it elsewhere, but one of the things we have to do is a daily accountability post. So, every day, we do our tasks, whatever we want them to be, and then we go to a Facebook group and share what we’ve done. And because I have this public accountability, I’m working more on my business than I have recently, or more accurately, it’s more focused. And if I’ve been faffing, and it’s 10pm, I stop what I’m doing, do my tasks and post that I’ve done them, even if it means going to bed later than I should.
Why Accountability Works
It’s not a coincidence that I’m doing what I say I’m going to. Being held accountable demonstrates a level of integrity; when we say we’re going to do something and we do it, we show we’re people of our word.
Research has found that when people write their goals down, share them and provide weekly updates, they are significantly more likely to their reach their goals compared with those who don’t. This accountability also then leads to increased focus and motivation, as well as pride and a sense of achievement in actually taking tangible steps in realising these goals.
Choose the Right People to Tell
Does it matter who you’re telling? I think it does. You need people on your side, who will be your cheerleaders. If you tell people who are really busy, or who aren’t interested, this can demoralise you, maybe even leading you to stop doing what you were doing and also questioning yourself as to why you’re doing it in the first place.
Shout Your Goals from the Rooftops
Find yourself an accountability buddy, a cheerleader, someone who’s on your side and shout about what you’re doing. And if this is hard, then check out my weekly ‘accountability corner’ where you can share what you’re going to do that week, and then when we get to the weekly wins at the end of the week, you can share that you did, indeed do what you said you would!
And if you’re looking for other ways to be accountable, or for support in reaching your goals, please get in touch, I’d love to help.