Personal Accountability is the Key to Being Successful
I believe that at the end of the day, we have to answer to ourselves. If we want to really thrive, to better ourselves, our businesses, and our communities, we have to practice personal accountability.
Like so many of the important things in life, personal accountability requires commitment and effort. It is the belief that we are fully, completely, and entirely responsible for our own actions and consequences. I once read that it is a choice, a mindset, and an expression of integrity. If we want to be personally accountable, we have to consciously choose to take ownership of our lives.
What does this look like?
- It means following through – doing what you say you are going to do and finishing what you start.
- It means stepping up to take responsibility regardless of the outcome. Personal accountability requires you to be truthful about everyone’s achievements and contributions, not just your own. Recognize your team members’ excellent efforts, and work with them to overcome obstacles. Reflect, personally and with a mentor, on the ways that you contributed to success, and the areas where you need to improve.
- It means moving forward, and not dwelling on the past, or procrastinating about what you will do in the future. Remember to follow these four steps.
- Identify the area that needs to change
- Determine what you are doing – or not doing – to contribute to the problem / promote change
- Decide on a course of action for problem resolution and successful change
- Act
Jeff Ruby
Founder & CEO of RedRock Leadership
Why do I think that this is a mindset worth cultivating? Accountability builds trust, which builds better relationships. If people know that you will keep your word, they are more likely to want to work with you and around you. Accountability focuses on problem solving. This saves you time and money because you are always focused on identifying solutions, preventing the escalation of costs and delays caused by problems.
By choosing to develop an inner sense of awareness and responsibility, we become resilient, continuous learners.
- Resilience: this is the ability to bounce back quickly from setbacks. Sometimes things go wrong, and we all need to be able to understand why and plan our next move. Personal accountability inspires us to realize that we hold the power. We don’t have to throw our hands up and play the blame game. While issues may arise, that may be out of our control, they don’t need to dominate our thinking. We have the power to determine our next steps. We can choose to move forward, overcoming whatever obstacles get in our way, and ultimately achieve success.
- Continuous Learning: if we want to become better versions of ourselves, we have to recognize where we shine and where we need a little polishing. Having the ability to recognize our own strengths and weaknesses will allow us to be better leaders among our colleagues, friends, and family. When we take responsibility for improving ourselves, rather than blaming external factors for our setbacks, we will see more and more opportunities for success.
Take time to hone this skill and watch as the positive effects ripple throughout your life. If you want to talk about more ways to unleash your potential, contact us here at RedRock Leadership.