Personal Development Starts with Accountability, What is Accountability and How Can We Cultivate it?

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Given that Accountability is the Cornerstone of Personal Development, what are the Qualities of Accountability and How Do You Cultivate it?

Personal development as the name implies means to grow as a human being to step into your greater self. A key component to personal development is accountability. Until there is accountability there is no true and lasting opportunity to grow as a person. None of us grow in isolation, we grow by our interactions and our relationships with others. It is our accountability that develops our leadership and gains the trust of others.

What is Accountability?

Accountability is showing up and keeping our commitments. Part of the phrase of accountability is dependability. When I am accountable I am dependable. Others can depend on me because I am accountable.

Honesty is an Essential Component

Accountability relies on honesty in our affairs with others. If I commit to certain actions in regards to my interactions with others I show up in every sense of the word. Honesty and follow through is the fabric our all our interactions.

Taking 100% Responsibility for My Actions

Accountability for me starts with taking 100% responsibility for my life and my actions. Only when I take full ownership of my life that I have the opportunity to be truly accountable. Accountability implies taking responsibility for my actions and fully showing up to my commitments.

If I fail to be accountable in a particular circumstance it is just as important to take responsibility for my missteps and make it right. Starting with admitting where I was not accountable and then taking the necessary actions to keep my commitment.

Creating Lasting and Meaningful Relationships with Others Starts with Trust

There is no opportunity for lasting trust with others without accountability. Every interaction we have with others involves accountability. As a parent with my child if I say I will be at the school at 4:00 PM to pick my child up, my child depends on me keeping my word. Being accountable means I take responsibility of showing up each day at school at 4:00 PM. This builds trust and reliability and just as importantly in this example I am teaching accountability to my child.

The Glue of a Highly Functioning Society is Accountability

Think about it without accountability there would be no ability to create anything of great consequence. Our society as a whole would fall apart.  Every aspect of our lives from our jobs, businesses, families rely on accountability.

Start with Being Accountable to Yourself

Accountability starts with being accountable to ourselves. If you want to lose weight then you need to be accountable to making healthier food choices, exercise and all that losing weight requires. Being accountable to you, builds trust with yourself and at the same time builds your self esteem as a person. When you trust yourself, others will be drawn to you and will want to be in relationship with you and potentially do business with you.

In my network marketing business when I work with people whom I have a high level of regard for, I say that is a person I would love on my raft going down the rapids of the Colorado River. What I'm saying is I know they would watch my back and be there when I need them.

There is nothing like having others have that kind of regard for you as a person. They have so much confidence in your integrity and your willingness to get the job done and to take care of your team members. This kind of accountability breeds tremendous loyalty.

Accountability is the Cornerstone of Leadership

Leaders emerge when they  are consistently accountable to their actions and their interactions with others. As I said earlier nothing breeds loyalty like accountability. When people know you care and you consistently keep your word, there is no greater bond that can be created. You create friendships and business relationships that will last a lifetime. The satisfaction from keeping our word is priceless.

How to Cultivate Living an Accountable Life

Pick Your Commitments with Care

We all know that we have many demands on our time and our energies. It is easy to fall into overwhelm if we don't stay tuned in. Picking your commitments with care will help you be more accountable to the commitments you do make.  If you commit to too much you will find yourself not being accountable at times and negatively impacting your relationships with others.

Stay Organized

Staying organized is paramount to accountability. I find it is essential to have a good calendar system with alarms to be sure you stay on track with your commitments. I use my iPhone and which is my personal secretary in keeping tracking with my commitments.

Be Specific and Track It

The only way to really to be accountable is to be specific about your goals and tasks is to be specific in regards to what you are committing to accomplish and when you plan on accomplishing it. It must be measurable and attached to a time line. The second part of this equation is to track your results. Get a tracking system in place so you can see when tasks and goals are reached. Your tracking system will give you reinforcement every time you achieve a goal plus you will see where you need to fine tune your results.

Be Realistic About Time Tables

I have fallen prey to this. Thinking I could accomplish more in a shorter time span. Hey I believe in stretching myself however we all need to strike a balance and creating our commitments, being accountable to those commitments while also enjoying our lives as a whole.

Ask for Help When Your Need It

Asking for help is essential. I have bitten off more than I can chew throughout my life and I have now learned how to ask for help. Part of being accountable is asking for help when you need it. It keeps the communication lines open and allows us to fully meet our commitments by not going it alone.

Overcoming Fear, Get an Accountability Partner

One of the things that keeps us from being as accountable as we'd like is our fears. Our unconscious programs run our lives so stepping out of these patterns takes support. Having a accountability partner can do wonders so we don't feel alone and showing up for ourselves is easier knowing another is depending on us as well.

There is great satisfaction working together in partnerships and teams. If you want to up your game play with others who will grow you and hold you accountable.

The Best way to Increase Accountability is to apart of a Mastermind Group

There is nothing like a mastermind to hold you accountable to your dreams and goals. A mastermind is a intimate group of people with a common cause or goals that come together to hold each other accountable to attaining those goals. It is opportunity to share, to learn and to make commitments. A Mastermind is an opportunity to cheer each other on and encourage all within the Mastermind to step into their greater selves. I have experienced masterminding with others as the fastest way of growing as  person and becoming more accountable.

Your Next Steps

Now you know what it means to be accountable and some sure fire ways of helping you stay on track with your own accountability in life. I'd love to hear your thoughts about accountability, please leave your comments below. Also, if you found this post helpful in your journey in life please post to your favorite social networks, like Facebook, Twitter and Digg.

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