You may have heard the saying, “accountability is the key to success.”
And it’s true.
When it comes to our personal and professional lives, accountability can be the difference between success and failure.
The APA Dictionary of Psychology defines accountability as:
“the extent to which an individual is answerable to another (e.g., a supervisor, official review body, a group of peers) for his or her behavior, decisions, or judgments. In groups, accountability is influenced by anonymity and the extent to which the contributions of each member of the group are clearly identifiable.”
More simply, being accountable means being answerable for our actions.
It’s about avoiding the blame game, taking responsibility for the choices we have control over, and being held accountable for the results.
It also means showing up and setting out to accomplish the goals we said we’d accomplish.
In coaching, accountability is one of the most important tools we have at our disposal. By holding our clients accountable, we can help them to achieve their goals and reach their potential.
Accountability has the power to transform lives. It can help us to overcome our fears and doubts, and to take action even when we don’t feel like it.
When we are accountable to someone else, we are more likely to follow through on our commitments. We also tend to be more honest with ourselves and more open to feedback.
Accountability creates a sense of responsibility and ownership. It gives us a reason to stay focused and motivated, even when the going gets tough.
It can eliminate wasted time and energy, and help us to make better use of our resources.
When we’re accountable to someone, we’re more likely to stick to our goals and stay on track.
This is just one reason why becoming an ACC certified coach can help you achieve more success in your coaching career.
So how can we use the power of accountability in our coaching practice?
There are many ways to incorporate accountability into your coaching. Here are a few ideas:
- Set up an accountability group or partner with another coach.
- Use coaching tools and techniques such as goal setting, action plans, and progress tracking.
- Use PERMA to encourage accountability in your clients through relationships.
- Encourage your clients to share their goals and progress with you on a regular basis.
- Hold yourself accountable to your own coaching goals and standards.
- Be available to support and encourage your clients when they need it most.
Accountability is a powerful tool that can help us to achieve our goals and reach our potential. By incorporating it into our coaching practice, we can create positive, lasting change in the lives of our clients.
What about coaches?
Accountability is hard work, but it’s worth it. If you are not currently being held accountable by anyone, I encourage you to find someone who can help you in this area. It could be a friend, a mentor, or even another coach.
Whether we are accountable to our clients, our colleagues, a higher power, or ourselves we all benefit from the power of accountability as coaches.
When we take responsibility for our lives and our choices, we open the door to limitless possibilities. It may sound cliché, but it’s true. When we are accountable for our success, we have greater power to change our lives for the better.
Here are a few ways we can practically apply the power of accountability for ourselves as coaches:
- Make a commitment to ourselves and our coaching practice.
- Set goals for ourselves and track our progress.
- Get a coach, take an online coaching certification course, or join a coaching community to receive support and feedback.
- Take time for personal development and learning.
- Be willing to say “I don’t know” when we don’t have all the answers.
- Don’t blame others for our mistakes or our challenges—admit when we are wrong.
- Be gentle with ourselves when we stumble and fall.
- Practice what we preach!
The power of accountability can help us to achieve our goals, reach our full potential, and make positive change in the world.
As coaches, let’s make a commitment to ourselves and our clients to use this tool for good.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that accountability matters.
If you’re not currently promoting accountability for clients in your coaching practice, I encourage you to try it.
You may be surprised by the impact it can have on your clients’ lives.
You may even find that it makes a difference in your own life as well.
