Accountability – The step that makes it all work

This episode shares the second bonus method to manage time effectively.

Accountability – The step that makes it all work

This episode is about accountability as a bonus in the mini-series full of tips to manage your time better to fulfill your life’s purpose. In the transcription of this podcast, you’ll see the link to my website where you can see more resources as well as previous episodes of my podcast.

Accountability partner

One sunny day, Bob decided to attend the local talent show. As he strolled through the crowd, he noticed a clumsy, uncoordinated juggler named Jerry. Jerry had always dreamed of being a great juggler, but his attempts usually ended with a chaotic cascade of flying balls and a disappointed audience.

Bob, intrigued by Jerry’s determination, decided to focus all his attention on Jerry. He told Jerry that he could see how talented he is and that he has a magic power that when he focuses his attention on someone, they always succeed.  

As Jerry stepped onto the stage, Bob got his attention and signed to him that he was focusing on him. To everyone’s surprise, as soon as Bob directed his laser-like focus towards Jerry, something extraordinary happened.

Jerry, feeling an unusual burst of confidence, began juggling with unparalleled precision. The balls danced through the air effortlessly, forming intricate patterns that left the audience in awe. 

As Jerry took his final bow, he couldn’t believe the newfound skill he had discovered under Bob’s focused gaze. Backstage, Bob approached Jerry with a grin.

“Congratulations, Jerry! You were absolutely fantastic out there”, Bob exclaimed.

Jerry, still catching his breath, replied, “I don’t know what happened, but it felt like I had the power of a thousand skilled jugglers. Thanks, Bob!”

When you focus on someone in order to help them succeed with their goals, that  attention very often makes them shine and perform at a new level of success.

Team accountability

One time I led a team of business partners who were all struggling to succeed.  

They were hard-working and talented individuals who made very thorough plans for success. But something was missing.

I consulted a mentor of mine, Mark Townsend. He taught me the concept of using a “band of brothers”, who set clear measurable goals, burn the ships behind them, share successes and challenges, create a daily accountability partnership, (In other words, measure yesterday’s results and today’s controllable actions), and lead by example.

The results were awesome and thus I learned the importance of accountability.

Accountability as a core value

Let’s look at these components carefully.

1. Band of brothers (or sisters) – when you are part of a group that commits to each other it has a special power.  

You don’t want to let down the team, so you make an extra effort to do your part before the team meeting happens each day. If the reward at the end can only be accomplished by succeeding together and if the pain of letting your team down is strong enough, then you won’t let your accountability partners off the hook and you won’t allow yourself to fail. 

1. Clear measurable goals – You need to figure out which  goals really move the needle.  

There are many possible goals to measure, but only certain ones are the cause that really moveד the needle of success directlyת rather than just being an effect of the actual cause.  

For example, a sale is usually the most important goal, but it is actually the effect of creating prospects, setting appointments and making presentations.  

Even making presentations is an effect of setting appointments.  Even setting appointments is an effect of making approaches. 

Limit the goal you are measuring to the one or two that cause the largest effect on what you are trying to accomplish.

1. Burn the ships – In the year 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived in the “New World” with 600 men. Upon arrival, he made history by “burning his ships.” 

This sent a clear message to his men. 

There is no turning back! 

Two years later, he succeeded in his complete conquest of the Aztec empire.  

Whatever thoughts or experiences from your past are holding you back from success, identify them as a team and leave them behind.

1. Share successes and challenges – this can be done in a group chat, a poster in the office, an online accountability board, or a group email.  

When you share every success or obstacle, it focuses you on the good and helps you overcome the negative.  

When you do this with a group, you are there to share your successes with your teammates when you are on a roll. Tthey will be there to pick you up when you are on a low. 

 Sometimes people think that if they are doing well, they no longer need this. Everyone goes through the roller-coaster eventually. 

If you are there when they need you, they will be there when you need them.

1. Daily accountability – it is the consistency that makes this work.  

What we measure must be time bound or it won’t happen. We must know that every day there will be accountability if we did not do the activities we promised ourselves and each other.  

We need to feel the responsibility to make up for those short falls by trying harder tomorrow and committing to that.

1. Controllable actions – You can’t control if someone else will buy or not. You also can’t control if they will show up for their appointment (although there are great tips on how to improve the percentages).  

You can control your own actions, like adding in new prospects to your pipeline or making approaches.  

We call these “controllable actions”. Key performance indicators or KPIs. Successful accountability is all about measuring what you CAN control!

1. Lead by example – If you are the leader of your team then lead.  

Don’t tell your team what to do – and then watch. 

 The most effective leaders lead from the front by actively doing themselves what they ask others to do.  

The famous saying is the “The speed of the leader determines the pace of the pack”

Lacking accountability

Accountability is the last step in our mini-series on time management, but it can’t exist in a vacuum.  

Accountability needs to go hand-in-hand with the rewards of celebrating success. 

To really transform yourself and your team, you need all the other building blocks to become a true time master. If you don’t reward yourself and others, you will lack accountability as well. 

I’m always told that I’m given the big projects because you give the most important projects to the busiest people. They will get it done.  

I’ll let you in on a secret of mine.  

I quite often get it done because to accomplish the big projects I require the big rewards.

So will you when you become an expert in this course!

Review this course from the beginning, now that you know how it all fits together. 

Be sure to share your successes with me along the way!

In the next podcast, we will be starting a  new mini-series called,  “Business Relationships – Hiring, Firing and Working with Business Partners”.

For more guidance and tips on how to live your dream life, go to my website, https://therabbiwhogotrichonsunday.com to access content-rich articles and more.

You can also access a link to that web page through the show notes, if you are listening to this podcast on any of the popular podcast platforms.

Resources:

1. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hern%C3%A1n_Cort%C3%A9s
   2. https://ralphwaldoemersonimages.wordpress.com/emerson-ephemera/illustrated-quotations/the-speed-of-the-leader-determines-the-pace-of-the-pack/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20speed%20of%20the%20leader,images%20of%20ralph%20waldo%20emerson