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Think about professional athletes and Olympians. What do they have in common?

Yes, coaches.

There are many reasons a person would hire a coach. Expertise, experience, outside perspective, and strategy would be high on the list, of course. But, first and foremost, the one thing a coach brings is accountability.

Even the most driven athletes know there will come a point where 5:00 a.m. workouts lose their luster and where hours of practice become wearisome. Yes, they are extremely disciplined and conditioned. But they know that, to push beyond their perceived limits and to the highest levels, they need one thing others may not have: accountability.

Now, let’s bring this to the real world, where the rest of us live.

The beginning of the year brings high energy and a resolution to reach goals, both personal and professional. But about six weeks into a new year, that new year’s energy wanes.

• The Super Bowl snacks come out.
• Entrepreneurs go into hibernation.
• Company teams lose their steam.

How is it that some go on to reach their goals, while others fall by the wayside?

The difference maker is accountability.

The Five Levels of Accountability

There are five levels of accountability. Goals usually fall by the wayside somewhere in the first or second level. This is why the other three levels must also be in place.

1. Accountability to self.

Everyone starts here, with self-direction and self-discipline. “I am going to ____.”

You can fill in the blank and start immediately. The problem is, self-discipline is constantly challenged by environmental factors, and these begin to wear it down. Some last longer than others, but this starting energy and accountability will eventually wear down.

2. Accountability to habit.

This is why it is important to break new goals down into manageable steps you can take every day. Establishing a daily habit helps you progress steadily toward your goal. Beyond dreaming and wishing, it takes the goal into tactical resolution. Establishing a new habit still requires some wrestling with self-discipline. Some will continue, but many fall by the wayside.

3. Accountability to a system.

And thus, creating a habit that ties to a system becomes very important. Doing something every day is great, but establishing a system for maintaining that habit will help ensure it sticks.

This may mean tying it to an already solid habit you have. This helps you rely less on willpower and more on autopilot. It may mean tracking your progress in a way you can see or creating a scorecard that lends itself to a reward system.

It may also mean that you have created an environment for success. Let’s say eliminating junk food from your diet is your goal. You can exhaust your willpower by trying to resist it every day, or you can eliminate it from your environment. Eliminating it from your environment clearly creates a system for longer-term success.

4. Accountability to a person.

All the accountability noted above will carry you far. But here’s where you can push beyond your self-perceived limitations. John Maxwell talks about the “Law of the Lid”. When you need to push on that lid, you are going to need help.

This is where an accountability partner comes into play – a coach, for example. A coach will help you identify your blind spots and areas in need of improvement. They will help you hone in on what is working well and overcome what is not working. If you are stuck or have reached a plateau, an accountability partner can help you move forward.

5. Accountability to purpose.

The highest level of all is where you have a clear vision and purpose that is so big you can’t conceive of not doing what it takes to fulfill that purpose. Whereas self-discipline is the initial push toward greater things, purpose pulls you in that direction.

Leadership Accountability

Leaders set the example for the teams they lead. This is why personal and professional accountability matter. You can’t expect your team members to push to their highest levels if you are not doing it yourself.

Think about these five levels and your current goals. What level of accountability have you reached? And how can you raise the lid of your success?

For valuable resources on Leadership Strengths and Tools, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!