Reach Your Goals Sooner! Join an Accountability Group

What You Need to Know about Accountability Groups

You might have heard the term ‘accountability group’ before but you are probably wondering what’s it all about, who is it for, why bother … and most importantly, is it the right step for me?

Here are some answers and information so you can make the best decision for yourself.

Firstly – What is an accountability group?

This definition sums it up well – An accountability group is a gathering of people who share their goals and support each other in reaching them. The group meets regularly to share their goals for the next week, to report on their progress from the week before, and to offer support to other members.

The group can also help you formulate your goals (eg SMART goals) and break them into steps to help you accomplish them.

A key point is – when we have to answer to other people, we can achieve things we can’t do on our own.

Humans are social creatures, and group dynamics assist us in achieving wonderful things. More people are realizing the benefits of accountability and collective problem-solving. Mastermind groups and accountability programs are booming in the business world … but life isn’t just about business. A lifestyle accountability group takes a more holistic approach to helping you set and achieve goals in all areas of your life.

Who is an Accountability Group for?

• Do you sometimes feel alone in your business?
• Do you struggle to meet self-imposed deadlines?
• Do you love brainstorming and problem solving?
• Would you like to achieve more at work, so you have more time for yourself?
• Do you have lifestyle goals as well as business goals?
• Do you find that while you sometimes let yourself down, you are far less likely to let anyone else down?

If you find yourself nodding your head and saying ‘yes’ to any or all of these questions, then an accountability group is probably a great fit for you.

It may be a reflection of human nature but those who get the most out of Accountability Groups are those who are already achieving to some degree. They already have a good life but they want a better life.

If you value self-discipline and want more of it because you know it’s key to achieving your goals, an accountability group is a great way to instil it.

Why join an Accountability Group?

There are lots of benefits to being in an Accountability Group including –

• Increased productivity – achieve more.
• Learn of tools and processes others use to help their business or lifestyle – sometimes something as simple as learning of a great app can make a big difference.
• More motivation and inspiration – be inspired by what others are doing and motivated to do more (or less if that’s what is needed!) yourself.
• Opportunity to network and build relationships – meeting with the same people on a regular basis helps build strong relationships.
• Improved self-discipline – achieving goals is done in small steps, making those steps a habit takes self-discipline.
• Great connections and collaborations – as you build relationships with your connections in the group, opportunities for collaborations will evolve.
• Increased business from referrals and recommendations – people only refer and recommend those they Know, Like and Trust. Your group will get to Know, Like and Trust you.
• Camaraderie – it is such a blessing to no longer feel isolated and alone.
• Goal measuring and deadlines – helps you achieve your goals by keeping you accountable.
• Share experiences and solutions – whatever issue, problem or obstacle you may face, someone in the group has probably faced it before and found a solution. Your group members will be only too happy to share their experiences in order to make your life a bit easier and your goals more achievable.

What does a GOOD Accountability Group look like?

As with anything in life, some accountability groups are going to be better than others.

An effective Accountability Group has these characteristics –

• They encourage you to make measurable and achievable goals – there is no point in having aims that are not well-defined enough to know if you are achieving them or not.
• The people in it already have a track record for achieving goals. They have achieved some things but want to achieve more. A group full of slackers will not achieve much as they won’t motivate each other.
• They have a leader who tracks progress and reminds people to check in.
• They connect regularly. The closer the members of a group are to each other, the more likely is that the individuals will achieve. People need to do more than check in with a success or fail for the week – they need to be able to share their struggles too.
• They allow for temporary failure. It needs to be okay to fail now and then. Making new habits stick is hard and it’s okay to struggle. Sharing struggles brings the group closer together as they brainstorm how to best solve the problem.
• But they don’t reward laziness. It’s one thing to struggle or fail – it’s another altogether to not even try. Eventually, there should be consequences if people don’t even try because they upset the group dynamics. Remember, the more each and every person achieves, the more everyone achieves.

Now you have a better understanding of what an accountability group is, and what it can do for you, what do you think?

Is an Accountability Group right for you?