Each year there are numerous amounts of people who want to make changes for themselves and achieve new goals; whether it’s to be promoted at work, lose 20 pounds, invest in more self-care, etc. The crazy thing is that only about 8% of people follow through and complete their goals, because there is one key aspect missing: accountability.

Did you know that:

• You have a 65% chance of completing a goal if you commit to someone that you will do it!
• You have a 95% chance of completing a goal if you have specific accountability appointments (or consistent meetings) with someone!

The most common excuses made for why we don’t hold other accountable:

• “I’ll just wait and hope they do it”
• “They know how I feel about it” – example: thinking they will get your dissatisfied hints
• “It will turn into an argument/awkward situation”
• “I made my expectations clear (I think)”
• “I will demotivate or lose them”
• “I will be seen as a micromanager”
• “It’s easier if I do it myself”

7 steps to foster healthy accountability:

1. Set clear expectations
2. Make sure there is a clear capability (because if someone doesn’t know how to do their job/the task at hand, how can you hold them accountable)
3. Make sure there are clear measurements of how results will be determined
4. Provide clear feedback
5. Set clear consequences. For example say: if ___, then ___
6. Constantly follow up or check-in!
7. Though all of these steps are important, one of the most important things is that you choose someone to hold you accountable who will be honest and real with you – and actually hold you accountable!