Last post I talked about Thinking Partners and why they are imperative to your success. Today let’s dive into Heart Partners or as better know as an Accountability Partner. I refer to them as Heart Partners because for true progress in any area of your life accountability must happen and imperative you let them “in” at a heart level! Great leadership starts from connecting to the heart and then they will follow. This principle holds true for self-leadership, you must believe from the core!
A Heart Partner is the person or group who supports and loves you unconditionally and does not care you did not win the biggest contract of the year. A Heart Partner listens without condition and gives you the foundation of confident courage to get up and do it again! They hold you accountable to yourself! Organizational accountability is easy the hardest accountability is to yourself because it is easy to say to say, “no one else knows my goal.”
Be honest how many times did you set goals and did not tell anyone because 1) It is easier 2) If we fail no one knows 3) If no one knows then I am not a failure, 4) If no one knows then daily steps toward it do not matter.
Well, no one may know but you do and this is self-sabotage for your success and relationships.
Finding a Heart Partner is the ability and willingness to give an account to someone else of your actions, goals, and desires.The list below gives you a basic outline of what to look for in a Heart Partner as well as how to set expectations.
- Heart Partnership is not forced.
- Be open about what you are doing and WHY.
- You own the partnership from your missed deadlines, mistakes, messes, habits, your character.
- Where do you desire partnership to help achieve your goals; write specific words and outline of what this looks like for you.
- Define clear objectives and then give your partner permission ( permission is essential in how and when you want to be held accountable)
- Define what motivates you to success.
- Transparency, the more transparent you can share and your partner can share with you is IMPERATIVE toward your success.
- Heart Partners must be trustworthy to hold confidences
- Good partners are not timid to ask you questions as they want the best for you, so let them ask questions.
- Responsibility as a Heart Partner is serious and this is someone who gives you the support you need and the right amount of “medicine” to ensure it goes down.
- Consistency is key! Meet at a regular time and do not cancel or change, this is for you!
- Heart Partner accountability will look differently for everyone and for every goal.
Accountability is painful or rewarding, it is all a matter of perspective and for me personally I have areas where I AVOID it. I also know what it takes for me to grow faster and go further and that is to on-board a Heart Partner. The imperative for me is to set the clear expectation and give them permission to kick my bum bum!
Who are you giving permission to kick your bum-bum into heart of the matter; YOUR SUCCESS!
Look UP and OUT!
Tracy Worley
My Heart Partnerships:
- Daily Calls: I have a partner who I text when I achieved my 5 daily calls.
- Exercise: I have a partner who I am accountable to with weekly check in with what I did daily for achievement to my goal.
- Study: I have several partners who I connect with over the phone or messaging on what I have read, learned, and applied. This is a growth area in my life personally and professionally.
- Speaking: I have specific goals in this area so have connected with others to hold me accountable to making the calls, marketing, etc…
- Mentorship: I have several mentors and mentorship groups, this keeps me connected, engaged, and challenged toward growth.