Growth is hard. Setting and achieving goals in life, even the most apparently simple of targets to hit, is often met with an array of challenges that can alter or even eliminate our abilities to complete our tasks. Considering your own personal experiences with personal and professional growth. Accountability likely stands as the cornerstone that has been a detriment or that has transformed aspirations into achievements. The journey towards your personal success is not an independent one either; it's a collective effort that thrives on a delicate balance of celebration, pushback, and community support. In this blog post, we explore and outline the transformative power of accountability, and how this combination of support can propel us towards our goals.
Accountability begins with recognizing and celebrating achievements, both big and small. This aspect is often overlooked in the pursuit of continuous improvement. What does it even mean to celebrate your wins? Celebration is not just about acknowledging the end result; it’s about appreciation. Appreciating the journey you are on, the progress that has been made, and the lessons you have already learned. Stop, hit pause for a minute to celebrate, infuse your endeavors with positive energy, reinforcing the commitment to your goals. Celebration can be considered a mindfulness practice in many ways. It is also something that we need to learn to accept from others. The positive reinforcement received on our way to creating something special is a reward that is essential for creating firm habits that build towards our foundation for growth!
Imagine any habit that you currently do not even have to think about. There is a reward attached to that habit – be it positive or negative, there is a good feeling there. That reward is what keeps you going back to that behavior. If we choose to ignore this step, our process is simply incomplete. Celebrate alone and together!
True accountability is not a mere pat on the back though; it also involves being open to pushback and being challenges. It is through these moments of resistance that we can discover the gaps in our understanding, confront our blind spots, and ultimately grow. Constructive criticism and feedback are vital components of accountability, pushing us beyond our comfort zones and catalyzing personal and professional evolution. You must be open to receiving the feedback and trying to understand other perspectives if you truly want to be able to grow yourself. It doesn’t mean you have to agree with everyone’s opinions, but you do need to be willing to hear it, contemplate it, and consider the possibilities outside your regular sphere of thinking.
Consider this; A team member challenges your approach to solving a problem. This may initially feel uncomfortable. You might even feel defensive or offended. Instead of taking it personal though, you think about it. You ask them how they came to their solution, and you consider what is possible if you did things differently than you had initially planned. This approach may just lead to refining your strategy and achieving a more robust solution.
No one achieves greatness in isolation. Accountability can come in many forms but is amplified when it thrives within a supportive community. Being part of a like-minded group provides encouragement, inspiration, and shared insights. A community becomes a safety net during setbacks and a cheering squad during triumphs, fostering an environment where accountability becomes a shared commitment. Through an engaging community you gain new perspectives, ideas, and can find comfort in relatability among other community members. It also offers you a sounding board to practice sharing your own ideas and perspectives. You build trust and respect among members which only strengthens everything mentioned above.
Joining a mastermind group or a community with similar goals allows for mutual accountability. The shared experiences and encouragement become catalysts for progress.
Now, you likely knew most of this before. That is not the challenging part about creating effective accountability. The difficult part is finding truly genuine forms of these things. Think of a time when someone told you that you should be proud of yourself, or told you that you are doing great, but their praise and celebration fell short of motivation or inspiration. Maybe, you’ve also received some push back from someone and it just didn’t come across quite right. I believe that accountability needs to be achieved through the right groups of people. I believe there is a lot of power in connection with people who inspire you and/or are working towards the same things you are working towards. Receiving praise and resistance from someone who has been through it or is going through it with you hits on a different level. This is why I believe we get so frustrated when trying to use our loved ones for support towards our goals. Yes, they want you to succeed, but their support is different – they are often now the right people to keep you accountable.
Accountability, celebration, pushback, and community support harmonize to create a transformative and enriching experience. By integrating these important elements, we unleash the true potential of accountability – a force that not only powers us towards our goals but also enhances the complete journey. So, let's celebrate our victories, embrace the challenges, question our thinking, and engage with community that propels us towards the heights of our aspirations. This is how we find the power to turn dreams into reality.
If you are looking for a powerful community of support that utilizes these principles to propel you towards your goals, join the Inner Ninjas! This is a wellness community that not only leans heavily on accountability, but provides coaching and resources necessary for success.
Kyle Craik
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