Statistic Brain found that 45% of U.S. citizens ‘usually make New Year’s resolutions (goals), but 92% of them fail to achieve them.
- 75% make it through the first week
- 71% make it past two weeks
- 64% make it past one month
- 46% make it past 6 months
Have you fallen victim to this cycle? Setting goals and failing to achieve them? If so, here are my accountability tools that you can use to make and lasting change in your life:
- Share your goals with your inner circle
- Put them on the mirror
- Join an accountability group
- Get professional help
- Leverage the power of career coaching
Accountability Tool #1: Share your goals with your inner circle
Having said, this, choose carefully who you show your goals to.
I don’t recommend posting your goals to social media for one big reason:
There are lots of people out there who are Eager. Excited. To beat the passion out of you. They will mock, ridicule and damn you with faint praise. Be careful who you show your goals to.
Choose people who you respect. Choose people who will be honest with you.
Sometimes our goals need adjustment. Finding someone who is wise to act as a sounding board for you is a big help.
Once you’re sure of your goals, and you’ve made them into S.M.A.R.T. goals, show the people who matter to you.
For more on S.M.A.R.T. goals, read this quick article:
https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/smart-goal/
Accountability tool #2: Put them on the mirror
One of the big reasons that you don’t reach your goals is that you just forget what they are! Here’s a saying that I want you to remember:
Repetition is the soul of learning. In order for your goals to matter to you, you have to review them on a regular basis. Like every day, or at least every week.
Choose somewhere to put them where you’re going to look every day. Some ideas of where you might want to display your goals:
- Your bathroom mirror
- Your nightstand beside your bed
- The sun visor of your car
- A reminder on your phone
- Your screen saver
- Your work station
Wherever you choose to put them, make it a place that your eyes are regularly drawn to. Review your goals regularly.
Accountability tool #3: Join an accountability group
You may have a group of friends or acquaintances who also want to see life change. Group dynamics offer a powerful motivation to stay on track with your goals.
Many people belong to business accountability groups. They’re easy to set up. Simply choose people who are in non-competing businesses who want a place to discuss business issues, and to stay on track with goals.
Meet for breakfast once a month to discuss them. Meet via teleconferencing weekly.
Choose your rhythm, and harness the power of the accountability group.
Accountability tool #4: Get professional help
If you’ve been working at the same goal for more than a year without success, it may be time to pay for some help.
There are coaches for every conceivable endeavor out there. Do you need help with:
- Time management?
- Physical fitness?
- Reaching business goals?
- Marriage goals?
- Stress, anxiety or other mental health issues?
If you do, and what you’ve been doing hasn’t worked, consider hiring a professional coach to help. The money you spend may be the best investment you’ve ever made in your life.
Accountability tool #5: Leverage the power of career coaching
This is a powerful tool, and best of all, it’s absolutely free!
How it works:
- Find a friend who wants to see life change
- Ask them to come up with a list of questions they would like to answer every day
- You come up with a similar list; questions you would like to be asked every single day to keep you on track with your goals
Sample questions:
- Did I do 100 push ups today?
- Did I abstain from alcohol today?
- Did I eat any dessert today?
- Did I do something nice for my spouse today?
- Did I make a prospecting call today?
- Did I give attention to my spiritual life today?
- Did I go to the gym today?
- Did I do my morning routine today?
- Did I eat 5 servings of fruits/vegetables today?
You get the idea. Choose your questions and answer them every single day via text or email.
Peer coaching is quick, free, and every effective.
In summary:
Most people set goals and fail to reach them. If you want to do better this year, try one or more of these five accountability tools:
- Share your goals with your inner circle
- Put them on the mirror
- Join an accountability group
- Get professional help
- Leverage the power of career coaching
Additional resources
Thanks for reading this article on accountability tools to use in personal planning. Below are additional resources from Professional Leadership Institute, the global provider of online human resources and leadership tools:
- New year planning https://www.professionalleadershipinstitute.com/tips/new-year-planning/
- The 7 questions to answer to build your personal annual plan https://www.professionalleadershipinstitute.com/resources/the-7-questions-to-answer-to-build-your-personal-annual-plan/
- A simple strategic plan for you https://www.professionalleadershipinstitute.com/tips/a-simple-strategic-plan-for-you/
- Building your personal annual plan (eLearning course including downloads and cheat sheets)
https://learning.professionalleadershipinstitute.com/courses/107-personal-annual-plan
A simple planning tool https://www.professionalleadershipinstitute.com/tips/a-planning-tool-for-2015/
Trevor Throness is a speaker, consultant, and author of “The Power of People Skills.” He is also co-founder and senior instructor at www.professionalleadershipinstitute.com https://www.professionalleadershipinstitute.com/
Find more about “The Power of People Skills” here: https://www.amazon.com/Power-People-Skills-Dramatically-Performance/dp/1632651068
