Accountability vs. Encouragement
A couple years ago, I was lucky enough to join a national mastermind group called the Better Life Tribe. It’s a group of like-minded Real Estate professionals across the country that preach their tagline of “Build wealth without losing your soul.” Part of their model to sustain growth and progress while also leading a fulfilling, balanced life is weekly accountability. They do this through either one-on-one coaching or by small groups they call pods.
My Pod has been meeting online for over two years. We have lost a few guys, added a few, and the current group of the six of us are dialed-in, meaning we are all engaged and invested in the growth of one another. Recently, we were all able to meet in-person for the first time for a weekend of bonding and this was one of the richest experiences I have had. Not only did we have a great time, but we had already built trust over the years through meeting online each week.
Reflecting on our time together, I got thinking about the word “accountability” and realized I hate the word. At its root, I believe it to be a financial or mathematical word, right? A quick google of the definition shows the following:
Accountable
of a person, organization, or institution) required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible.
I’m rubbing shoulders with self-starter folks who know where they are going and want to be in a group like this not because they need to be called to account for their actions.
Ever see the movie the Princes Bride? I love that line from Engo Montoya, “You keep using that word, I do no think it means what you think it means.” I think accountability is what people say when they want encouragement. Most people know what they need to do and how to go about it, but need encouragement to do the right thing, and maybe some reminders of what their overall target is so they don’t get distracted.
In my mind, it is fear versus faith. I believe the word accountability is leveraging the fear of being called to account on something and not being able to have a good answer. To avoid that discomfort, we will oftentimes see temporary results of doing what we say we are going to do. Then we get stuck in just checking boxes to avoid being called out, and then set smaller goals to make sure we can check those boxes. The flip side is faith. Coming alongside one another, believing and finding the best in each other and using encouragement to bring that out in people.
When we encourage each other we also help bring out the faith in ourselves. “He believes in me, I can believe in me.” Which then gives us the courage to do more and greater things.
en·cour·age·ment
/inˈkərijm(ə)nt,enˈkərijm(ə)nt/
the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.
Are there things that we are accountable for, or responsible for being a better word maybe? Sure. Of course, but I don’t think we need to be held accountable for those things. I think overall what we are missing is encouragement.
