Achieving your Goals through Accountability

Have you ever set a goal, felt super pumped about it, only to find yourself months later wondering, “What happened?”.?

You’re not alone—it’s happened to all of us. The gap between setting a goal and achieving it is often bridged by one simple, powerful thing—accountability.?

As part of your plans, including a system of keeping yourself accountable needs to be in place. Sometimes, you get thrown curveballs when life happens. This is where accountability comes in.

Your goals are set for the year. The motivation and energy is unmatched. You are ready to crush the plans and visions ahead. But then — distractions creep in, doubts, or even just the regular day to day activities and that initial fire starts to fade.?

For me, I have a trusted friend that checks in with me to ensure that I stay on track. She is my "Accountability Buddy". She sends a message and would ask me a question relating to the goal I set and mentioned to her. At other times, a call from her checking in to ensure that I am on track. This helps me stay on track knowing that excuses will not cut it. These timely reminders help me to stay committed.

Having an accountability partner,?whether it’s a coach, a mentor, a friend, or a community who hold you accountable to them can transform your journey.

My Accountability Journey

Think about the last big goal you set. Did you achieve it? If not, what stopped you? More often than not, you allow yourself to get off the hook because you don’t have anyone to answer to. That’s where accountability becomes your secret weapon.?

A few years back, one of my goals was to shed a few pounds. I had tried to lose weight all by myself before that but was not consistent and hence no significant result. I saw a friend that had lost a considerable amount of weight and looked amazing. I asked her how she arrived at the results of going down by about 2 dress sizes at the time. She said it was through the help of a weight loss coach and nutritionist.

I collected her details. I knew for me to achieve the required results, I needed expert help and support. So I reached out to the nutritionist and set up an appointment to meet with her. One of the things that stood out for me at our first meeting was her personalized approach that is tailored to your goals.

With her guidance, I was able to achieve my goal. This was not a one time thing, but a process that I followed through with. Being held accountable helped me make progress I could not have made by myself.

We had weekly check ins, where she celebrated my progress irrespective of how small or big. I looked forward to having conversations on what was working and what wasn’t. Some of the things I learnt have stayed with me till now.?

Accountability isn’t just about discipline; it’s about having someone believe in you when self-doubt creeps in. Having someone to check in with, share your wins, and nudge you through tough spots can make all the difference.?

Imagine setting clear milestones, tracking your progress, and celebrating every step closer to your target.?

Why Accountability Matters

Think of accountability as your personal GPS—it keeps you on track, alerts you when you’ve veered off course, and even re-routes you when necessary.?

Accountability keeps you moving, even when you no longer feel motivated.

Because the path to success is rarely linear, accountability ensures you’re constantly moving forward, no matter how small the steps.

Let’s break it down with a relatable scenario:

• Without Accountability: You promise yourself to read Inspired by Marty Cagan this month. Fast forward to week three, and it’s still gathering dust on your shelf.
• With Accountability: You join a book club or reading group that discusses a chapter weekly. You’re motivated to keep up because you don’t want to be the one who hasn’t read when the discussion is going around.

See the difference?

How to Build Accountability into Your PM Journey

Here are actionable steps to make accountability your superpower:

1. Set Clear, Actionable Goals: vague goals like “become a better product manager” is not enough. Instead, be specific about the outcome and the steps you plan to take in achieving it.
2. Find Your Accountability Tribe: Join a community of like-minded individuals that would keep you aligned and motivated. It could be an accountability buddy, partner, circle, squad or tribe.
3. Track Your Progress: Use tools to keep yourself in check. Having a tool to track you helps to monitor your progress. You are able to review your goals and if you are on track or behind.
4. Make Accountability Fun and Supportive: Remember, accountability isn’t about shame—it’s about support. Share your wins, no matter how small. Celebrate when a peer hits their milestone. It’s these little moments that keep you going strong.

How many times have you set a goal — maybe it was updating your resume, reading a book, learning a new skill, or applying for that role — and started off strong, but got sidetracked along the way. You keep saving posts of learning resources, registering for courses, only to start but end up not completing it.?

Is this speaking to you? At the start of the year, your goals include the number of books you will read, certifications you plan to take, and other areas to grow professionally.?

Here’s the thing, life happens to the better of us.?

In 2022, I made a commitment to step out of my comfort zone and to start posting on LinkedIn. I spent all my time liking posts and not even commenting. But all this changed when I came across a post asking for people to join an Accountability group to help them post on LinkedIn for 30 days. I signed up for it. I was still hesitant at first, but getting support from the group and templates on how to proceed changed everything.?

Were my posts perfect, far from it. I showed up daily for 30 days, it was not easy but being accountable made me post everyday for the next 30 days.?

I learnt that accountability isn’t just about discipline; it’s about having someone:

- Support and celebrate your progress even when you don’t feel like going on

- Cheer you on when you’re making progress.

- Remind you of your “why” when things get tough.

- Provide the structure and feedback to ensure you take action.

That's why it helps you stay committed, and take bold steps of being accountable.

Having been there and experienced the value of accountability, I came up with "The Product Muse Accountability Pods", a program designed to support product managers, stay focused, consistent, and accountable as you work towards your goals.?

What's inside??

1?? Clear Goal Setting & Accountability: Help break your goals into actionable steps and make sure you’re held accountable every step of the way.

2?? A Community: Be part of a small group of like-minded people who cheer you on while keeping you grounded.

3?? Learning & Growth: Talk about your challenges and provide resources to help each person based on their individual goals.

4?? Progress: This isn’t just another program where you feel good for a week and fall off track later. With weekly check-ins you’ll make consistent steps toward achieving your goals.?

If you're tired of going at it alone, this is a program that will help you do things differently in 2025.