What good is a goal without accountability to its achievement?  It seems like “goal setting” workshops are everywhere.  I can’t help but asked myself, “since when is it so hard to set a goal, that I need a workshop?”  These people are completely missing the key to it all…it is not setting the goal that we need help with, it is achieving the goal.  Not achieving your goals has to do with lack of accountability. So how do you accomplish your goals?  The answer is daily accountability and monitoring.  In our experience at Renegade Concepts, our clients are great at “goal setting” (that is nothing but establishing a desire), but the true problem lies with the accountability and monitoring of the achievement process of those goals.  Anyone can say what their goal is, but only the determined actually set their sights and daily actions to the actual achievement of their goals by using true accountability.

You already know your goal…for most business owners; the #1 goal is to increase revenues and sales.  No business grows until sales are made and continuously made.  So, now the question is how to set up accountability for this goal and accomplish it!

1.)  Create an Accountability Plan- Not achieving your goals has to do with a lack of accountability.  What good is a target without a specific plan on how to achieve it?  Don’t waste your time with pondering what the next step is…you know the next step.  The next step is getting real about the metrics and the numbers that drive sales.

2.)  Establish the Metrics- Let’s start by taking a look at the metrics that drive your sales.  What are the three to four things that make the sale for your business?  Is it the number of calls you make?  The number of face to face meetings you have?  The number of events or presentations you conduct?  These are the metrics you will focus on to achieve success in your sales.  Don’t get bogged down into the “to-do” list of your day until these factors have been targeted.  At the end of the day, the week or the quarter, does it really matter if your website looks good, you created a new blog or organized your office?  No.  The #1 driver of your business is sales.  Focus on the metrics that drive your sales first!

3.)  Determine the Numbers- An accountability plan without specific, measurable numbers to target is nothing but a “to-do” list.  Let’s get real about the numbers you need to achieve daily to stay on target for achieving your sales goal.  Start by analyzing how many sales you need.  Now, for you, what happens before the sale?  For many businesses, a proposal must go out…so, how many proposals do you need to put out to achieve the number of sales you know you need?  Continue this process to determine the numbers you need for the rest of your metrics.

4.  Get into Action- Stop finding excuses for why you can’t and just do it!  You have already established the factors that make or break your business and your sales so what in the world are you making excuses for?  Get into action and work your accountability plan with intention and focus every day.

5.  Find an Accountability Partner- For most of us, being accountable only to ourselves, is not enough.  If you know you need help, get it…and I don’t mean a buddy of yours that says, “uh, sure I’ll be your accountability partner”.  We all know that doesn’t work.  When it gets down to it, your friend is not going to hold your feet to the fire and push you.  You need a hard nose accountability partner; one that will make you uncomfortable if you don’t produce your numbers and encourage, motivate, inspire and teach you to forge ahead.  Your sales, your business and your future depend on you being able to set aside your excuses and pride and get help.

Andy Lowe, Renegade Concepts

Andy Lowe has empowered people to achieve peak performance in business, teams, sales and relationships to maximize their potential, grow their bottom lines, and experience unparalleled growth. You can learn more about him at RenegadeConcepts.com