#77 | Mini-Workshop: Accountability and a New Year

Our last workshop of 2021 was all about goal setting. To piggyback off of what we learned, today we’re discussing how to make those goals reality. It’s still early in the year and you may feel motivated to reach your goals. Maybe you want to be more active on LinkedIn, have confidence in front of the camera, or create more content. Motivation is awesome but it’s not a guaranteed source of fire. How are you going to follow through when you don’t feel like it? Keep reading and I’ll teach you!

How To Stay Motivated (11:11)

Speaking of motivation, what motivates you? 

I’ve found there are three major motivation categories:

• Punishment – Knowing something bad will happen if you don’t complete the task.
• Rewards – Promising yourself a treat.
• Other humans – Having accountability. 

I’m a stick at the end of the carrot kind of girl. After a hard project, I’ll reward myself a cookie or a $6 latte or 5 extra minutes of tv. Here’s the thing, we’re not consistently one type, our motivation fluctuates from one category to the next. Figure out which works best for you, but remember you may be a mix. 

Accountability Red Flags (12:24)

Did you know we’re 80% more likely to succeed if we have accountability?!

Not telling someone your goals is a major red flag! Your community can’t cheer you on or keep you accountable if they don’t know what you’re working towards.

Also, how many times have you sat down to write out goals, gotten excited and ended up with a laundry list of to-do’s for the year? *I’m definitely guilty* The reality is we’re not going to get to all of them. Hyper focus on just 2-3 goals and choose the right accountability partner to help you stay on track.

Hard Truth About Accountability Partners (19:15)

Who are you more likely to listen to? A close work colleague or a family member? (DM me your answer.) The hard truth is sometimes family members aren’t the best accountability partners because their advice can feel like nagging. Or since they’re close, you feel you get a free pass to ignore them. I call it the farting rule. – Stay with me lol – Just like brushing off when a family member farts because you love them either way, we brush off wisdom from those closest to us.

Ignoring a colleague is much harder to do! There’s a judgemental factor with others that you don’t have with family. Friends, work colleagues, and community members – like our CWK community – make the best accountability partners. 

The Game Plan For Success (25:06)

Now that you know your top motivators and accountability partner type, it’s time to create a  game plan. Set it in motion with these 3 steps:

Step 1:  Set SMART goals – Goals must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. Write it down in SMART form so it’s easy to see and share.

Step 2:  Get a partner involved – Share your goals and outline with your accountability partner, the goal and the SMART goal outline. Help others help you by asking for a specific reminder text, call, or accompaniment. 

Secrets To Staying On Track (32:00)

Step 3: is also the secret to staying on track. Take baby steps. It’s easy to get lost in big goals, baby steps act as a guide to keep you on track. Plan, schedule and communicate your baby steps with your partner. 

Pro Tip: Add your accountability partner to your calendar event so they know when you plan to take an action toward your goal and can check in with you!

The Mistake We’re All Making (36:40)

As you complete the baby steps and get closer to your goals, be sure to celebrate Every. Single. Win. Just like at a ball game where we celebrate every touchdown or home run even though our team hasn’t won the whole game yet, we have to be happy with reaching our small goals. Celebrating is necessary for motivation. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring the small wins. 

Write them out and keep it in a mason jar to read when you get discouraged, or post a visual reminder of how far you’ve come.

Next Week

Conflict makes my stomach turn. I tend to run the other way.  Liane on the other hand runs TO conflict.  She’s helped teams like Google, Amazon, and Walmart solve some of the most difficult team challenges and she’s sitting down with us to share her secrets. You don’t want to miss this conversation! RSVP here.

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Want To Learn 1 on 1 with Me?: I’m passionate about making YOU stand out at work. After a 45 minute training, Avery (aka my newest shining star) implemented my tactics and got a new job making $60k MORE than the last. Want some of that secret sauce for yourself? Check out more here. 

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