Athletic Accountability Partner
So, you’ve set a goal and written it down. Now what? What else can you do to increase the chances you will achieve that goal? The answer is - get yourself an accountability partner. This simple step won’t just increase your chances of achieving your goal, it will SIGNIFICANTLY increase those chances.
To help you implement this technique let’s discuss three things:
What is an accountability partner?
Who is the ideal accountability partner?
What should take place during your weekly/monthly check-ins with your accountability partner?
What is an accountability partner?
An accountability partner is an individual who is tasked with making sure you stay focused and committed to the steps you need to take in order to reach the goal you have set. They are one specific individual you will meet with (either in person or by phone) to share specifically what steps you are taking in your quest toward that goal. Then at a set timeframe (preferably weekly but no longer than monthly) you will meet again to confirm with.
Having this individual forces you to plan better because you are going to be telling them what steps you will be taking over the next week. This also ensures you reflect on your progress during the week because you are going to have to talk about it with your accountability partner the next time you meet. This planning and reflection significantly increases your chances of success.
Who is the ideal accountability partner?
This person does not need to be a mentor, coach or someone better than you at your sport. In fact, it doesn’t even matter if the individual you are choosing as your accountability partner has ever played or even watched the sport you compete in because their role is not to teach or advise you at all. The person also doesn’t have to be the same age, race, gender, etc. as you.
The ideal accountability partner is simply someone who you can count on to show up at the consistent times you have set, each and every time. He or she must also be willing to hold you accountable. So, if last week you said you were going to do steps A, B and C and by the next time you meet you have only done A and B, your accountability partner won’t help you make excuses for not doing what you said you would do. They will ask you why you didn’t do C and what you are going to do over the next week to make sure C gets done.
Another key characteristic of an accountability partner is that they too have a goal they are strive toward for which you can help keep them accountable. When each individual has a goal, you are both getting the benefit of the accountability discussions and getting the satisfaction of helping someone else achieve one of their dream which can be even more rewarding than achieving your own goal.
What should take place during your weekly/monthly check-ins with your accountability partner?
First of all, these check-ins need to be specific appointments that you have set in your calendar. They should be no more than 30 minutes. Setting a specific time ensures that it doesn’t become a task you will “do later” and later never comes.
During this discussion you will…
Repeat what you said you were going to do the last time you met
Report on whether or not you were successful in doing what you said you were going to do
If you did not do all you said you were going to do, explain how you will fix this so you can complete it over the next week
Discuss 1-3 things you learned/insights you gained over the past week
Identify 1-3 “wins” or things you are proud of that took place over the past week
Finally, what tasks/steps you will complete this coming week
Once you are done with the six steps above your accountability partner will complete the same six items. Each of you take no more than 15 minutes so the entire conversation is over in 30 minutes maximum.
Having an accountability partner is such a great technique to force you to stay consistent in your progress toward your goal. For it is a lot easier for us to make excuses to ourselves as to why we aren’t working toward our goal than having to admit to someone else that we didn’t do what we said we were going to do. Strangely enough we are much more responsible to other people than we are to ourselves.
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