Let me begin by saying I didn’t expect the kind of reaction that I got to my last article especially you my readers and lovers asking that I elaborate on the muscles of mental fitness I mentioned in that article.
So here’s me heeding to that request.
By the way, if you missed How Improving Your Mental Fitness Can Help Boost Your Productivity and Success, don’t hesitate to read it.
Now to why I am here, personal accountability as a way of building mental fitness.
Personal accountability is the belief that you are fully responsible for your own actions and consequences.
It's a choice, a mindset and an expression of integrity.
We all have choices to make each day of our life and the choices we make are a function of our mindset. Now, how we express these choices rests on if we are going to be true to ourselves or lie to ourselves.
Interestingly, I shared with some folks that it is foolhardy to fight what your heart and head agree with. Rather than split that energy you’ve got fighting your heart/head, why not invest it in following that one who tells you the truth? This is where integrity of the heart or head comes from and it is to you and for you your own good this time not some persons you want to make happy or praise you.
While individuals need to build this, there is also a need for organizations to imbibe that culture as it plays a big role in the growth of the organization and his begins with the leadership.
Self accountability, also known as personal accountability, is a way of living in which you take responsibility for your actions and your life, learn from your mistakes, and quickly recover from any impulse to blame others, ignore problems, and hide from your own shortcomings.
Can Personal Accountability be learnt or are we born with it?
Personal accountability is an achievable skill. It may come more naturally to some than others, especially depending on how safe you feel among the group when you need to take responsibility for a mistake.
You can have a natural ability but developing it through practice makes it a skill. Infact, a sellable skill.
I must admit that I tempted to focus on how this plays in the workplace but I have to resist that temptation. Therefore, I will share with you what personal accountability is and what it isn’t thereby leaving you to go break a leg.
Examples of self accountability:
Admitting to a mistake, telling those who are affected, and helping to problem-solver for solutions
Taking time for self-reflection and intentionally learn from mistakes and shortcomings
Asking for help when you need it
Recognizing a problem rather than ignoring it or hiding from it
Taking action rather than getting lost in planning and imagination
Examining and taking ownership for your own role in creating the problem and/or contributing to finding the solution, even if the problem wasn’t your fault
Forgiving mistakes made by you and others while making the commitment to improve and to help others improve
The following are some examples of NOT taking personal accountability:
Ignoring a problem rather than recognizing it
Denying that a problem exists, hoping it will go away
Creating a list of reasons why the problem is not YOUR problem
Hiding from the problem by ignoring emails and phone calls, or getting lost in unhealthy habits like excessive TV watching, drinking, or eating junk food
Why is personal accountability important?
It is important because eliminates the time and effort you spend on distracting activities and other unproductive behavior.
Let me wrap up by sharing with you some ways to show personal accountability :
Be honest-set pride aside.
If something goes wrong and you are responsible, say Sorry and mean it.
Use your time wisely. Invest your time in things that would yield dividends e.g work, relationships, tasks etc.
Don’t overcommit. Promise less but over deliver.
Know your role and place in people’s life
Reflect! Reflect!! Reflect!!!