| In today's 24/7 driven business word, | | | | performance numbers. By developing your own |
| accountability is becoming a more critical issue for | | | | baseline for success such as 100 dials equals 20 |
| every business owner, manager, executive and | | | | contacts creating 10 appointments delivering 2 |
| salesperson. The challenge is to realize that | | | | sales, you establish some mental boosters to help |
| accountability is just not a single issue, but an | | | | you stay focused and motivated. |
| issue with many supporting elements. To maintain | | | | Time - Are you making the most of your time? |
| and thrive as an accountable individual first | | | | Time is a fixed commodity. By using down time, |
| requires overcoming the fear to embrace these | | | | the time between appointments or phone calls, |
| elements and then a plan of Action to ensure that | | | | you can greatly enhance your results. For |
| YOU are an accountable individual. | | | | example, you can write 5 more emails, read 5 |
| Action - What action or actions did you take or | | | | more pages or file 5 more pages. |
| not take and why? Since many individuals have | | | | Alignment - Are your actions in alignment with |
| been conditioned not to take action or are stuck | | | | your purpose? Do you know what your purpose |
| in "analysis/paralysis," accountability suffers | | | | is? Your purpose along with your vision, values |
| because no specific action has been taken. | | | | and mission statements act as filters and help you |
| Commitment - Are you truly committed to doing | | | | to make better decisions. For if the pending issue |
| what it takes? As a good friend and mentor once | | | | is not in alignment with your purpose, why are |
| shared that the U.S. has a multi-billion dollar diet | | | | you even considering this issue? |
| food industry. However, he continued "If individuals | | | | Building Behaviors - Is your accountability a one |
| would engage in walking 30 more minutes each | | | | time thing? Inconsistency derails many individuals |
| day, drink 8 glasses of water, reduce their daily | | | | and organizations. "Walking the talk" is critical to |
| food intake and avoid known fatty foods, would | | | | building a culture where you are respected for |
| they or would they not lose weight? The answer | | | | your demonstrated actions. Accountability then |
| is yes there would be weight lost. So, why is | | | | becomes your friend and not your foe. |
| there a multi-billion dollar diet industry? The | | | | Internalization - Are you working from the inside |
| answer for most simply lies within the level of | | | | out? To be truly accountable, means that your |
| commitment of those individuals. | | | | actions are coming from your inside convictions |
| Choices - Are you making good choices such as | | | | and not just from some recent external event. |
| prospecting, networking or professional | | | | Internalization also helps to strengthen the |
| development ? Growing your business is directly | | | | consistency of your actions. |
| dependent upon the choices that you make. Are | | | | Learning - Do you view failure positively or |
| your choices growing your business or limiting | | | | negatively? John Maxwell in his book Failing |
| your business? | | | | Forward explains how failure is an opportunity for |
| Opportunities - Are you creating new possibilities | | | | success. If you permit failures to drive your |
| for success? With so many ways to build your | | | | behavior, you have lessened your own likelihood |
| business, what opportunities will generate for you | | | | for success. Each day should present to you a |
| greater success? Look at each networking event | | | | new learning experience from which you can |
| as an opportunity to enhance your business. Set | | | | grow both personally and professionally. |
| goals for meeting new people. Analyze the | | | | Integrity - Do you demonstrate your values at all |
| outcomes from those events. Consider forming | | | | times? For example, will you take action when |
| strategic alliances with others to improve your | | | | you know a situation is wrong or will you ignore |
| business results. | | | | the situation because you don't want to lose a |
| Understanding - Do you understand yourself? Are | | | | sale? |
| you aware of your own strengths and feelings? | | | | Team - How can you help others be more |
| Do you know how to leverage those strengths? | | | | accountable? Today, proactive teamwork is a |
| How do you deal with your feelings? By better | | | | greater part of American business. Teams help |
| understanding what you what, what behaviors will | | | | achieve greater success, but sometimes team |
| help you achieve your goals, how you feel and | | | | members lack some of the necessary skills. We |
| what values are necessary to maintain your | | | | often hear of the 20% of the team doing 80% |
| credibility, will bring additional benefits to your | | | | of the work. Are your behaviors helping others to |
| business as well as to yourself. | | | | be more accountable or are your behaviors |
| Numbers - What are your weekly numbers? The | | | | allowing others to shoulder more of the workload? |
| old adage goes if you can't measure it, you can't | | | | YOU - Bottom line, it is all about YOU, no buts, no |
| manage it. Today's technology provides a variety | | | | excuses! |
| of tools to help you manage your daily | | | | |