As a business owner, are you accountable? Do you take responsibility for your actions? Most of us do not like to be accountable, as we tend to feel it restricts us, yet if we resist being accountable we risk losing focus and clarity of our mission as a leader.
Being accountable means answering to someone you trust and respect. As business owners we all need someone to advise, direct, guide and counsel us. Things can fall through the cracks, however if we are accountable we must answer to someone who provides us with the truth, making us aware of opportunities in which we can benefit positively both personally and in business.
Regardless of your industry, If you blame others for your failures and problems, big or small, personal or professional you may be doomed to fail. Being accountable is not only a mind-set, but also a skill set that can be learned. Follow this three-step process to learn the skill on how to commit to accountability:
1. Responsibility – When you are ready to take responsibility, you are aware that the success or failure of your decisions is up to you. When taking responsibility you own your commitment to a result even before you have taken action.
2. Empowerment –Empowerment comes from within. When you empower yourself you are taking action and taking the risk to achieve the result you want. Rather than wait for someone else to step up, we suggest you make things happen and be responsible for the outcomes. Trust yourself and your power.
3. Accountability – Different than taking responsibility (the before), and empowerment (the during), taking personal accountability is the “after.” Taking accountability is your willingness for the outcome of your choices, behaviors and actions. When you become accountable you stop blaming others and making excuses as to why things didn’t work out as you expected.
Don’t wait – become accountable today and own your success in business and in your life.
