An accountability partner is a friend or colleague that you’ll call weekly at a set time to report the status of the goals you set during the previous call. You’ll discuss any challenges you’re having and seek your partner’s input, and you’ll commit to additional goals to be achieved by your next call. Similarly, you’ll check to see whether your accountability partner has honored their commitments made during your last conversation. If not, the two of you can brainstorm as to how to achieve these goals by your next call. Having accountability partners is a terrific way to forge deeper bonds between peers in an organization.

Keep it simple. Schedule your accountability check-ins for an entire month in advance.  I talk with my accountability partner every Friday. We split the time evenly between us on each call, 15-20 minutes each + 5 minutes for random stuff. We follow up as needed between calls via e-mail. It’s fun, you build a strong bond with your partner, and you help one another succeed.

Here’s a helpful weekly status template to send to your Accountability Partner before each call:

• Completed this week
• Not completed and why
• Concerns to discuss
• Weekly win
• What I will complete next week
• Monthly Needle Movers status
• Annual Needle Movers status

Let us know how working with an Accountability Partner has helped you!