Standing Together To Be Better At What We Do On Our Own
Let’s talk about your accountability partner as part of your growth strategy.
Do you run out of steam before you reach a goal? Have you ever tried to complete a task or finish a project but got lost along the way – distracted by other things or commitments?
When you have someone by your side to encourage you and to nudge you along, it often makes all the difference in your progress and end results.
Lost While Finding Our Way
When I was a teenager, I was involved in a local orienteering group. At the post-event gathering, the organizer facilitated a debrief. He told us that he had invited a friend of his to meet us. That was the only information he gave us. A moment later, Roger Bannister knocked on the front door and walked in with a huge smile on his face.
If you are looking for an inspirational book to read, run, don’t walk (wink) to pick up The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, and Less Than Four Minutes to Achieve It.
This is the story of how Roger Bannister broke the 4-Minute Mile Barrier. He was being pushed by two other athletes around the world who were also vying for the first ever runner to run a mile in less than four minutes. John Landy from Australia and Wes Santee from Kansas. Each of these three men inched closer to being the first person to break through the 3-minute barrier.
Roger Bannister, a medical student who was studying human performance by using himself as a subject, knew that he was able to do it.
But not on his own.
“I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends” (Beatles)
He needed two friends of his, Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway.
On 6 May 1954, Chris Brasher acted as pacemaker for Roger Bannister when Bannister first ran the sub-four-minute mile at Iffley Road Stadium in Oxford.
Brasher paced Bannister for the first two laps, while the third member of the trio, Chris Chataway, paced the third.
Chris Brasher, a pioneer of orienteering in Britain, was the key to having Roger Bannister show up at his house.
What are You Trying to Achieve?
So, I ask you, what are you trying to achieve on your own? Are you struggling to keep yourself going to the finish line?
The research confirms what we already know. An accountability partner can keep you concentrated and motivated and act as the perfect companion for your self-exploratory journey towards success.
This is how an accountability partner can benefit you.
- They Help You Stay On Track
When you begin to lose focus, they are there to remind you of your initial objectives and what matters to you.
- They Keep You Motivated
Just when you need it most, they provide motivation, inspiration, strength, and support.
- They Provide Support And Advice
As an independent observer of your journey, your accountability partner can give you insights into your progress.
- They Share Your Happiness and Success
An accountability partner is a perfect person to celebrate and share in your happiness and achievements.
- They Help You Push the Limits
Working together with your accountability partner can challenge your abilities and recognize areas where you can make more significant progress.
Stories from the Field
Want more convincing?
We recently asked the members of our Leadership Accelerator Accountability program to comment on the benefit that they have realized from receiving my weekly accountability email.
Steve from Kamloops, BC.
It’s too easy to get caught up in the daily grind. The emails give you a chance to reflect on where you are and what you are doing. They provide a chance to get re-grounded and reflect on the week! Sometimes we don’t pause for reflection, it’s something we all need to do, and the email is a nice gentle reminder.
Lois from Vancouver, BC
First, it makes me feel valued as a person. I am sure you are very busy doing these every week and reading and responding to the answers and yet, you find time to connect with each individual. That tells me you care about my success. Secondly, it spurs me on. Life is busy and the course is often at the bottom of my pile. Your emails help keep me on track. Thirdly, it causes me to reflect on my own growth. No matter how far along the leadership path you are there is always something you don’t know or something you could be doing better.
Donna from Chilliwack, BC.
I have to let you know that the accountability emails are helpful. I have yet to reply to one, but seeing the message in my inbox reminds me to keep going with the leadership learning, and more importantly, it reminds me of the concepts I am learning. For example; 20 minutes of reading each day add up to an accumulative amount over the long haul….just a couple of steps forward each day adds up over time in an effort to be the best at what I do, who I am, and how I impact the world around me. Thank you for your training and the vivid reminders of how to show up.
Shawn, Abbotsford, BC.
I’ve definitely gotten value out of some of these. They spur you to think about things you may not otherwise spend time pondering.
Anas, Abbotsford, BC.
Yes, they have helped in initializing an in-self challenge. I challenge myself to better understand the lectures / personal stories and see what is hidden inside myself that I can use to improve my leadership skills. I use the emails and the articles or questions in a self-search of what I already have hidden inside that I can bring out and use. I saw positive results in my careful reading and implementing the different advice hidden in each email.
If you are interested in joining the several hundred recipients of our 52-Week Accountability emails, it is available to you as part of the Leadership Accelerator Program.
