What Can Coaching Do, Part Two, examines personal accountability.
What is personal accountability? The best definition I’ve found so far is “a personal choice to rise above our circumstances and demonstrate the ownership necessary for achieving desired results”.
Let’s break that down to its base elements and really get to know the concept.
A PERSONAL CHOICE
We all know that we make choices every day, but not all of them are conscious. One way to keep ourselves in check is to question our motivation for our behaviors. For instance, how we deal with surprises may not seem like a choice, but it absolutely is. We can choose to allow life’s surprises to knock us off course, or we can roll with them and see them as hidden opportunities for action or growth.
To recognise and own these choices, it requires a shift in perception to be prepared to accept the positive of any situation, rather than the assumed negative aspects. Only when we choose to see the good in things all around us do we recognise the good in ourselves – an essential aspect of accountability.
RISE ABOVE OUR CIRCUMSTANCES
I’m sure we’ve all heard people say it – rise above it. Such an easy thing to say in theory, yet such a challenge for some to do in practice. This ability requires a certain amount of balance between being present in the moment and a detachment from the emotional intensity of the situation. There are some who seem to have a natural ability for this, but for most people this is a learned skill. A requirement for moving forward taking personal accountability seriously. It is essential to success with any goal.
DEMONSTRATING OWNERSHIP
Probably the most challenging of the aspects of accountability is demonstrating ownership of our choices, the results that follow, and the best way to continue moving forward. This is where working with a coach becomes invaluable. Where we are unable to see where we went wrong, a coach can ask us questions we may not have thought to ask ourselves on our own, particularly the very difficult questions that result in forcing us to look more closely at our less desirable qualities.
However difficult, this is an important step, because when we bring these uncomfortable truths to light, we free ourselves of burdens, such as repressed shame or anger, and things that keep us from enjoying the success we wish to achieve.
By examining closely, admitting truths to ourselves that we may have long denied, we come to a clarity in thought and emotion that is essential for success. A coach is there to ensure we look at these things honestly, and then encourage us to see the gift of this revelation as an opportunity to adjust our plans with a more realistic perspective.
Instead of using the word “failure”, I encourage replacement with the phrase “opportunity in disguise” or “unexpected result”. When things don’t go as planned, these phrases take the sting out of non-successful moments, and allow for adjustments or employment of new methods in order to continue moving forward.
Today, ask yourself these questions: How do you handle disappointments? Think about this for a while. Are you a good sport, or do you become negative and moody when things don’t go as planned? Do you like this quality? Would you like to change your perspective?
If you feel you need help learning more about personal accountability, a coach might be just what you need.
The next installment of What Can Coaching Do will be addressing the role of creative visualization in achieving success. See you then!
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