How to Use Accountability to Overcome Procrastination

I've tried every productivity hack in the book. Pomodoro method. Phone lock box. Grayscale. You name it. But I'm a worldclass procrastinator, so I've made mincemeat of these worthy challengers. Until recently... I finally met my match and my productivity is through the roof. It's stupid simple but it works for me. Peer Accountability. So damn simple. Here's how it works: 1) I set 3-7 SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound goals) For example: - Sweat before 9am 6 days per week - Keep screentime below 3 hours per day on weekdays - 3 hours of golf practice per week 2) I find an accountability buddy for each goal. The requirements: - they have a goal in the same category (work, wellness, play, family) - they are committed to holding me accountable & being held accountable 3) I create text convos for each buddy/goal and ask a few important questions: - What is your 1 SMART goal i'm holding you accountable to? - What style of accountability do you prefer? Drill sergeant, curious, empathetic, etc - Why is hitting this goal important to you? (good to know to refocus partner after they've gotten off-track) 4) Pin each accountability convo to the top of my messages & check-in daily/weekly depending on the frequency of my goal & my partner's goal.

Every weekday, I take Chester out for our mandatory walk. He sits in my office, waiting for my sessions to end. If I run a few minutes over, he “speaks up” to remind me. In the picture he is ready to go at the front door. Chester is my Accountability partner, and the walks help both of us stay healthy & happy. Accountability is a large part of my practice. Clients use coaching to achieve their aspirations, stay on track, or adjust their plans. It’s all about moving forward with their goals. Here are four accountability best practices: 🟦 The Aspiration has to be important Make sure you are committed to the aspiration. If you are waffling, rethink & readjust it. Check that it’s your aspiration, not someone else’s expectation. 🟦 Have an Accountability Partner Chester keeps me honest about our walks, but I have also used other partners for other parts of my life and work. Coaches can be a “full cycle” around your goals. We help clarify them and then support clients as they move forward. Coaches offer encouraging and honest feedback, often the key to goal achievement. 🟦 Build in Incremental Rewards Identify milestones along the way and celebrate them. Small wins and rewards keep you focused, making the process and journey more enjoyable. 🟦 Give yourself both Forgiveness and Empathy We can’t control everything, and situations change. We might also not move as fast as we hoped, and goals may have to be adjusted. Honesty is important, but being too self-critical doesn’t help. Self-forgiveness and empathy can help you reengage and move forward. Try building an Accountability Plan using the four ideas above. A key element is having a support system (mine includes a dog!). I’ll be sharing more about Accountability Plans in the future - Stay Tuned! #Accountability #CareerSuccess #ExecutiveCoaching

✅ 22% of us rate ourselves as Accountability Superstars. For the other 78% of us who rate ourselves as “could be better,” or “I need external accountability,” here are some tips to help support you in your accountability efforts:   As a baseline, learn to appreciate the built-in External Accountability that accompanies most of our jobs, even if they can be stressful: Deadlines, client expectations, KPI’s, CRM’s, Quarterly Reviews, 1:1’s with our boss and more. This structure supports us in getting our work done and moving the company goals forward. Outside of the built-in structure, I've learned the importance of creating additional layers of accountability, and here’s what works for me: 📅 Set Your Own Hard Deadlines Create non-negotiable deadlines for yourself. For instance, I commit to releasing a new podcast episode every Monday. It's a self-imposed deadline, but it keeps me accountable to my audience. Other hard deadlines could be hosting or planning an industry event, a virtual webinar, or an important client meeting. 💎 Identify your Big Rocks and Reverse Engineer Your Action Items Identify the most critical projects you need to achieve or sales/client efforts you need to close within a certain timeframe. (I like quarterly.) Then, identify the specific action items that have to get done to move the Big Rock forward. This helps identify the most urgent items to move your business/sales forward, AND prioritizes your workload on where to spend your time. Put it somewhere visible where you can see them. 👯♀️ Find an Accountability Buddy Pair up with a colleague or friend who shares similar goals. Regular check-ins can dramatically boost your productivity, especially in proactive activities like prospecting. It’s like assigning homework for yourself, with someone cheering you on, and homework that usually gets you paid! 👩🏫 Consider a Coach or Mentor If your organization doesn't offer this, look for one yourself. Coaches and mentors can provide invaluable guidance and accountability, especially if you're paying them! You'll show up prepared to get your ROI. I’m connected to many if you want to send me a DM, I'd be happy to introduce you. 📣 Go Public with Your Goals Share your objectives with your team, leadership, or even publicly. If the Big Boss knows you’re chasing an elephant, you’re going to be a lot more motivated to bring it over the finish line. Remember, accountability isn't just about meeting external demands; it's about setting up systems that align with your personal and professional growth and working style. What are some other ways we can create external accountability to achieve our objectives? #accountability #externalaccountability #achievinggoals #businessdevelopment