Advance Your Goals with a 2019 Accountability Partner

Co-authored by Kendall Williams

In the span of two minutes, I went from being a dedicated corporate marketer to an unemployed creative. The news that I was being laid off came via telephone on a Friday afternoon. I wasn’t exactly surprised or disappointed – but I wasn’t mentally prepared for this next step.

Up until that point, my goals were the company’s goals: more sales, increased engagement, and positive media coverage. I lived and breathed their goals, and had lost sight of meaningful personal goals. After the layoff, I could have searched for fulltime work, but my intuition guided me otherwise. Instead, I found a few clients and busied myself with projects and pastimes that spoke to me. Things were going OK, but without a corporate timeline – performance reviews, fiscal calendars, quarterly earnings reports, etc. – I felt lost. I tried various tactics to help me identify and commit to my goals. Sometimes I did good, sometimes I didn’t, and staying on track has continued to be a challenge.

At the end of 2018, I told myself I couldn’t go through a third year of “winging it.” During this time, I crossed paths with a New York-based creative who was in a similar space. We’d each decided it was time to fully pursue specific projects that had gone dormant. During the last week of 2018, Ken Williams and I officially agreed to be 2019 Accountability Partners (APs). We are learning that “Accountability Partner” is a loaded term not too many people fully grasp, so we’ve added “educate the world about this concept” to our list of to-dos. We are here to help you begin laying the foundation for one of your passionate ideas you’ve had brewing in your mind.

You know those projects you started, but stopped? We’ve been there. Like Ken and I, you have everything you need to create success and become prosperous: we’re skilled, unique, and knowledgeable — so what’s stopping us?

In most cases, it’s a lack of focus, motivation, and direction that blocks one from reaching their full potential. We start each New Year proclaiming that “this year is our year.” We create lists of goals and colorful vision boards, sign up for gym memberships, dust off our library cards, and download apps to support our objectives. The enthusiasm starts off fiery but wanes a few months in when life gets hectic or, we simply lose interest.

Does any of this sound familiar? You’ve probably done many of these things and more, but there’s one thing you likely haven’t tried that will improve your odds of succeeding this year: an Accountability Partner.

An Accountability Partnership exists when two or more people agree to support, guide, and encourage each other as they each work toward individual goals. If you say you are going to do something, your AP is the person who points it out when you veer off track. They help you stay the course, brainstorm ideas, and provide encouragement when things get challenging. They act as your personal cheerleader, and you do the same for them. While you may procrastinate and make excuses when no one else knows your goals, you’ll be less inclined to do so when you’ve shared with others.

I know this to be true because since Ken and I agreed to be Accountability Partners, just knowing he’s aware of my goals and will nudge me when needed has provided a boost.

I was receptive to the idea of having a 2019 Accountability Partner because I felt stuck in both my corporate writing work and in my creative writing. In addition, there were personal goals on my list – like being more organized and disciplined – that I was making little progress with.

Ken and I have life-changing goals. Between us there are books to write, businesses to grow, and lifestyles to change. Our decision to become Accountability Partners was a natural (and needed) next step to move our individual interests along

We’ve discussed our agreement and the concept of APs in general with people we know. The questions we get vary from “What the heck is an Accountability Partner?” to “Why should I have one?” to “How do you find one?” In the questioning, there exists a hint of fear and hesitation. It’s unspoken, but we understand the source: Accountability is intimidating. It’s scares people because it implies responsibility. When you are an AP to someone, you’re responsible for both your goals and their goals to a certain extent.

We’re still figuring out what processes work best for us individually and collectively, but there is one thing we’re sure about: We don’t just want to give it our all – we need to give it our all. We’ve each reached a point where excuses and procrastination are no longer an option. As we feel our way through this journey, we will share resources with you starting with the Q&A below detailing what we’ve learned so far about finding and keeping an Accountability Partner. Our goal is to demystify the process and use our experience to encourage you to try this method out.

Accountability Partner Q&A:

How do I find an Accountability Partner?

Scan your circle for people who might be a good fit. It can be a close friend, relative or colleague, but it doesn’t have to be. You should gravitate toward people with whom you already discuss goals and ambitions. One question to ask when considering options is: “What could this person offer me, and what could I offer them?” Perhaps they’re strong in areas you struggle with, and vice versa. In a good partnership, your skills and personalities will complement each other.

Find someone who is serious about doing the work. Whatever goals you each set for yourselves, and whatever agreement made between you, must be taken seriously.

When considering who might be a good match, the first few names that pop into your head are a good place to start. If you have the means for regular communication, it doesn’t have to be someone in the same city or region as you. Once you have someone in mind – just ask! Chances are they will be interested in exploring the possibility.

How do you know if an Accountability Partner is for you?

If you want feedback and guidance on personal and/or professional goals, are willing to schedule time to meet, call, text, or Skype regularly for check-ins, and are feeling stuck in your endeavors, you’re a good candidate for having an Accountability Partner.

How long should people remain Accountability Partners?

A one-year commitment will give you time to see real progress; however, it’s wise to set a 3-month trial period after which each party can decide if they want to continue with the arrangement.

What’s the difference between a mentor and an Accountability Partner?

The difference is Accountability Partners need each other equally for guidance, support, and encouragement. Though a mentor can learn from and receive support from their mentee, those relationships are usually one-sided with the coach or mentor providing most of the guidance and advice.

What personality traits does a good Accountability Partner have?

A good Accountability Partner is patient and generous with their time for your projects and current stumbling blocks. Ideally, they offer an outside perspective of possible solutions. A great Accountability Partner is also selfless and anticipates obstacles before you realize they exist. Additionally, they have the energy, personality, and stamina to support and encourage someone else if and when a temporary stumble occurs in their own life.

What’s next?

If the information shared here resonates with you, and you believe an Accountability Partner could help propel your goals forward, we challenge you to begin your search for an AP today. Once you choose a potential match, send them a link to this post and keep us abreast of your progress!

Follow our journey as we discover for ourselves what works and what doesn’t.

Cheers to a successful 2019!