It’s easy to set financial goals but more challenging to follow through. As a result, most people tend to give up almost as soon as they fail to see results. Have you ever wondered how people get financially successful? Well, a good reason behind this is through accountability partners. You’re far more likely to tick off your financial goals when you have an accountability partner. Studies show that doing so can increase the chances of achieving your goal to 95%.
So, who is an accountability partner? In a nutshell, it’s someone who agrees to motivate and support you and ensure you stay on track with your goals. They will work closely with you to help grow your business while offering guidance to hold up to your financial commitments. Think of them as a combination of a coach and a cheerleader who helps set goals, produce action plans, and ensure that you follow through.
Having an accountability partner may not seem all that necessary to some, but it’s much harder to veer off your goals if you don’t have someone pushing you to complete them. An accountability partner is someone who has the complete toolbox of extensive professional experience and deep knowledge about leadership, positive psychology, emotional intelligence, mental training, and neuroscience. These skills allow them to actively listen to you and ask stirring questions, making you more confident and open-minded in attaining your financial goals.
Moreover, they can also focus on your positive strengths and acknowledge negative traits that can deter you from moving forward.
How to Select an Accountability Partner?
Before you decide to enlist the services of an accountability partner, make sure that you do some work on your own. Make sure that the person you choose ticks off the following traits:
Trustworthiness
An accountability partner will be privy to information about your financial goals, and this may include your savings and salary. Since these are sensitive details, you have to make sure that the person you’re enlisting is one whom you can be completely open and trusting with.
Good Communication Skills
If your action plans are to be met, regular communication and support are crucial. It’s recommended that you communicate daily, even if it’s very brief, with your accountability partner. Additionally, they should be open to in-depth weekly meetings.
Well-Experienced
Choose an accountability partner with extensive experience relevant to your goals so they can offer valuable insights.
Someone Who Is Not Impacted By Your Decisions
Your accountability partner should not be financially tied up in your goals; rather, they should be able to offer fresh perspectives and constructive feedback.
Well Educated
Your accountability partner should be able to give you educated advice. The internet has made knowledge accessible to all, but these sources may not always produce reliable results. However, a person who has studied economics, finance, taxation, and investing at their university will have more knowledge to help you. Also, ensure that the person you select has proper investment licenses and credentials that prove their knowledge.
Complete and Unapologetic Honesty
Your accountability partner should have the emotional strength to call you out if you’re falling back on your goals or if they are unrealistic. In short, they should be willing to hold you accountable and challenge you to do the required work.
Once you have found the perfect accountability partner, it’s time to draw an agreement so you can hold yourselves strong to your partnership. Your agreement should cover the following:
- Timing: Discuss how often you will have meetings and if they will be conducted via phone, online, or as a coffee date.
- Agenda: The agenda should cover a simple format that you can follow through for each accountability check-in. Your agenda should be simple so you can spend more time gaining or providing feedback.
- Goals: Ensure that your goals are documented so that they are transparent to your partner. This will ensure that there are no communication gaps.
Conclusion
There is no denying that accountability partners are a valuable asset – particularly when it comes to helping you achieve consistent results. Even if someone in your personal life has the qualities of an accountability partner, their judgments can sometimes be clouded due to their relationship with you. Moreover, the relationship dynamic is healthier with an experienced professional.
You need to learn the art of accountability to attain your goals and savor real success. An accountability partner will help you to become more self-resilient and self-aware. They will also instill a newfound confidence in you that will earn the respect of your clients and hit your objectives more efficiently. At the same time, they will help you to break free of any limitations you have set for yourself and guide you to explore horizons beyond your comfort zone. They will also make you acutely aware that you alone are responsible for your success and that they can only guide you in the right direction.
In a nutshell, your accountability partner will help you uncover your inner excellence, and by the end of the road, you’ll be amazed by how far you’ve come on your road to success.