Entrepreneurs are non-stop thinkers and innovators. Too much of this energy can lead to spreading ourselves too thin and stopping and starting various projects. We’ve all been there. To stop this nonsense it’s time to buckle down and find an accountability partner. An accountability partner is another person (possibly another entrepreneur) that will help you set, prioritize, and keep goals. She will help push you toward business success. Here are three considerations to help you find an excellent partner.
- A fellow entrepreneur that you respect. This person has high integrity. Perhaps you currently do business with this fellow entrepreneur. Or maybe, you know several of his/her raving customers. Either way, you look up to this person and value their opinion.
- A fellow entrepreneur that is methodical. Note the way this person writes emails and takes notes. Do they try their best to clearly communicate in bulleted form? Are they systematic? Are they reliable and do they follow through on their promises?
- A fellow entrepreneur that is proactive. If he or she doesn’t know a piece of information offhand, do they shrug their shoulders and give up or are they relentless in getting that information?
Once you’ve asked your entrepreneur-friend to be your accountability partner, it’s time to start working together. During your first meeting, agree on the frequency of one-to-one meetings. Are the meetings monthly, bi-monthly, or weekly? We recommend at minimum, that accountability partners meet once per week.
Be completely honest with your partner – especially when it comes to money. Anything less will not get you to where you want to be. If both of you use accounting software, it is easy to report sales and expenses to each other. For example, if your sales goal for 2011 is $40,000, it’s April, and your sales-to-date is $4,000, that tells you and your partner that you have $36,000 to go to reach your goal (you must average $4500/month between May to December).
Share research or keep your ears and eyes open for your partner. If you and your partner serve the same target market, why not share research? When you run across articles or statistics that may help your partner, don’t be afraid to shoot them right over as an email so your partner can read your findings at their convenience.
And finally, be completely transparent about your personal insecurities and really listen to them as they help you deal with them. Personal insecurities can include being intimidated by speaking in public, procrastinating when it comes to sales presentations, difficulties with negotiations, etc. We all have our insecurities. Those that face their insecurities head on (with a partner) are in a greater position to get back into positive thinking mode to overcome them.
About Janet Johnson
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I have come to rely on the daily check-ins I have with my accountability buddy. The support and problem solving help I’ve received from mine in invaluable. Thanks for sharing another great strategy for entrepreneurs to reach their full potential, Janet!
Great Janine! So glad this works for you
Such an important part of entrepreneurship! And you completely nailed out. Working alone over and over is so difficult for some people. We often change our deadlines when we aren’t staying on task, but with an accountability partner, you need to report to someone weekly or daily. When the excuses start flying, that person knows that it is in your best interest to push through…
Yeah, and it’s OK to say, “Push me, I need it.” This isn’t a time to be walking on eggshells. I need my AB to keep me grounded. Thanks Kelly! Janet
I agree with Janine and Kelly’s comments – having an accountability partner has been one of the most important factors in my business success. Knowing that I’m going to talk with my partner and commit to accomplishing certain things has helped me to focus, think clearly about the actions that will move my business forward. I’ll never be without an accountability partner again!
Yeah! And an AB can be someone who you work with too. I used to have 7 AM meetings with my production manager. a 10 minute meeting to say what was accomplished yesterday and what needs to be accomplished today is a giant help. Thanks Lori! Janet
I so agree with Kelly’s point. I often feel alone in the world, working for myself. Accountability partners are a great suggestion. I am fortunate to have two right now. Makes me feel connected with the outside world and I love being able to ask questions and to brainstorm ideas.
Great guidelines for determining who would be a good partner and who wouldn’t. Because after all, not just anyone will do, right?
I’ve had accountability partners that just added to my workload and sucked my energy because I didn’t choose wisely. But lesson learned! I adore my current partners (yes, I have two!). They not only keep me on track and out of the muck but I also feel I have something to offer them as well.
Hi Nancy! I’ve had that too – Years ago, I had one who was very loose with his goals and therefore wasn’t very helpful to me. In the past year, I’ve had 2 ABs and they know what I need – real accountability. This isn’t for show – this is a necessity for success. Thanks! Janet
I agree with Nancy ~ the right match is really so vital when working with AB’s!!! Some of mine have been awesome ~ some just were another thing on my already overwhelmed to do list!!! Great advice!
Thanks for this Janet!
I absolutely love the idea of accountability, and am so grateful that I have my check-ins with mine. Even if things are going OK, it’s great to listen to the other person’s experiences, as it will inevitably lead to more ideas for me and my business.
I ensure that this is a staple in the running of my business!
Fabulous article. A fellow entrepreneur and I recently founded SWAG: Smart Women Accountability Group. We meet as a group once a month and partners meet each week. For a small business owner juggling outside employment, family and my business, having an accountability partner has been essential to moving forward. : )