If you’re working with an accountability partner or accountability coach, here is what I recommend so that you can really get the most out of the experience:
1. Review your long-term goals, weekly goals, daily goals and habits every morning.
Do this quickly, ideally in the morning. It shouldn’t take more than 2 minutes.
Reviewing your goals will keep your motivation up and remind you what you’re working on and what’s important to you.
Do this daily quick scan so that you don’t forget your immediate tasks and daily habits.
2. Do a “nightly review” of your day.
Every evening before you go to bed, spend no more than 5 minutes to review your day. In your nightly review:
- Write down the most important actions you took and any successes you had
- Check off completed tasks (if you didn’t check them off throughout the day)
- Record the habits you worked on. Use an app, spreadsheet, digital document or physical journal
- Plan your main tasks for the next day. By planning your day the evening before, you’ll be able to wake up and start taking action!
3. Check in with your coach regularly.
The clients who have the most success with their goals consistently check in with me. Even if they’re busy, a brief update is better than nothing. The biggest advantage of accountability coaching is that you’re obligated to report to your coach or accountability partner. If you don’t do that, the coaching simply won’t work. Check in regularly and get the full benefits of coaching.
4. You must take action!
After writing down our long-term goals and creating an action plan, we then realize we have to take action on it. This part often freaks us out a bit and can cause some stress, overwhelm, fear and self-doubt.
Taking action usually means we need to do things differently than we have in the past. One of the most difficult challenges we have is to change our habits. You don’t have to make major changes immediately but you will most likely need to make at least a few habit shifts to get good results in your first month.
It’s helpful to remember that it’s better to take “imperfect” action than not take any action at all. Break down those goals and habits into small steps. Make it impossible for you NOT to take action.
Take some action daily. Every time you fall off the path, re-focus and get back on track as quickly as possible.
Taking action is the antidote to fear.
Do these quick productivity and accountability habits consistently. Being inconsistent will erode your ability to make the kind of transformational progress you’re looking for.
Keep your productivity and accountability system quick and simple. I know you’ll have success with this if you stick with it!
Nigel
Nigel Cook
Accountability Coach
Holding Your Feet to the Fire
PS: Want to reach your goals faster? Check out one of the online accountability coaching programs and book a free Strategy Session coaching call where we’ll review your current goals and challenges. You’ll be able to find out how the accountability coaching program supports you, making it easier for you to take action and whether the program would be a good fit for you.