Should You Create Accountability Partners on Your Team?
Posted March 22nd, 2018
At the foundation of most business successes lie goals. Desired sales figures, project completion dates, cost-cutting targets, and so much more are goals at their core, and you need your team to step up to ensure they are reached.
But encouraging people to meet these challenges isn’t always easy, particularly when the targets seem to only exist in the background. However, there is a way to increase the rate at which goals are attained: Accountability partners.
What is an Accountability Partner?
Accountability partners are a set of team members who will help keep each other on target. When an employee commits to meeting a specific expectation and expresses their dedication to their partner, they are more likely to attain that goal.
An accountability partner will monitor their teammate’s progress, communicating with them regularly to see how things are going, if there are any challenges impacting their forward momentum, and working with them to find solutions. The relationship can work both ways, with each partner holding the other one accountable and providing support whenever required.
Kinds of Accountability Partners
There are a few different ways an accountability partner relationship can function. One method is peer-to-peer, where employees at similar levels monitor each other’s progress and provide support when necessary. At times, these relationships can be one-on-one. However, a larger network can also be beneficial, especially if your team has a wide array of skills and responsibilities and not everyone shares the same areas of expertise.
Mentorship arrangements can also function as accountability partnerships. These tend to only operate in one direction, as the mentee may not have the knowledge or skills to support mentor’s striving to reach goals. However, they can be a great option for employees with potential to move up in the organization, are new to their field, or are hired into entry-level roles and require additional guidance.
Should You Use Accountability Partners?
Whether accountability partners will benefit your business relies on a number of factors. First, there have to be well-defined goals in place. Otherwise, your team won’t know what they are holding each other accountable for or what progress should be monitored.
Additionally, the partners need to have a solid working relationship, often based on similar personalities and work styles. The intention behind accountability partners isn’t to create conflict or assign one team member to “babysit” another. Instead, there needs to be mutual respect and a desire to help each other succeed for these arrangements to be successful.
When used the right way, accountability partners can reduce some of the stress typically placed on management while also encouraging staff members to work together for the success of the organization.
If you are interested in learning more or are looking for a skilled professional to join your team, the experienced staff at Bayside Solutions can provide you with the insight you need to succeed. Contact us to discuss your unique needs and see how our flexible and customizable services can benefit your business today.
