Personal accountability – the definition of accountability is taking or being assigned responsibility for something that you have done or something you are supposed to do. Taking responsibility means “Stepping up”, whether it is changing your business or changing the world—it starts with you. When you’re personally accountable, you take ownership of what happens because of your choices and actions. You don’t blame others or make excuses, and you do what you can to make amends when things go wrong.

How much of your success would you say is up to you—your choices, your actions, your behaviours— versus outside conditions? If your mind-set is that you’re at least 85% responsible for your success—and that just 15% depends on the way the wind blows—you’ll likely be successful. If you blame your problems and failure on other people, circumstances beyond your control, or just plain bad luck, you may be doomed to fail. The good news? Accountability is not just a mind-set—it’s also a skill- set that you can learn.

Take responsibility for your mindset. Responsibility is not something you do—it’s a way of thinking and being. You own your commitment to a result before the fact, before you even act. Be responsible “either way”. Next time you take on a project, be 100% responsible for the outcome. Not a little. Own it 100% —good or bad. You can be 100% responsible. Most of us don’t realize—or at least don’t admit—that we alone have the power to manage our lives and businesses. Sure, you can give that power away, but it doesn’t happen without your permission.

Empower yourself – there is only one kind of empowerment, and that is self-empowerment. Empowerment comes from within. By empowering yourself, you take the actions—and the risks—to achieve a result and get what you want, you step outside your comfort zone, make things happen, and answer for the outcomes.

The most direct route to self-empowerment is to be clear about expectations—not only what you expect, but also what’s expected of you. To do that, ask questions, make agreements, and clarify everything in writing. Otherwise, you risk suffering a key source of all upset: missed expectations.

Be honest – everybody messes up sometimes. Lying about it or trying to cover it up always makes it worse—no exceptions. Don’t tell untruths. Nobody believes them anyway—not even you!

Are you accountable for your actions even if nobody holds you accountable—or catches you? Be your own “accountability cop” and police yourself. On the long and winding road of life, choose accountability at every turn.

Choose accountability and own your success in your business and in life.

Look to yourself – and try asking the following questions:

• What’s the problem?
• What am I doing, or not doing to contribute to the problem?
• What will I do to resolve the problem?
• How will I be accountable for the result?