Accountability Isn’t a Burden, It’s a Backbone
I recently wrote about big, audacious goals, and the micro-goals that make them possible.
This week, I’ve been thinking about accountability. Most of the time, we treat it like this big, heavy thing.
Capital-A Accountability.
Serious. Formal. Maybe even a little intimidating.
But what if we saw it differently?
What if we made space for micro-accountability?
Like meeting a friend at 6:30 am for your run. Or messaging your coach when you’ve finally completed that one thing you’ve been avoiding. Or booking regular check-ins with your direct report at the start of a project, so there’s a predictable cadence. A rhythm. That structure builds psychological safety, not just tracks progress.
I’ve been going to the same Pilates class for 20 years. It’s not because I don’t know the moves. It’s because I won’t actually do the moves (for an entire 45 minutes, with form and focus) without someone guiding me. That’s accountability.
Micro-accountability isn’t about guilt or pressure. It’s about building systems that support us.
I coach a lot of leaders who assign work, then assume the follow-up will just… happen. But real leadership builds accountability in from the beginning:
When will we check in? (Book it now. Your calendar rules your day; use that to your advantage.)
What will we check in on?
How will we know we’re on track? (Define what success looks like upfront, and when you expect to get there.)
And no, this isn’t micromanaging. It’s managing.
One mistake I see all the time? A leader delegates a task and says, “This is due to the client on April 30,” but sets no milestones along the way. There’s no checkpoint for the Manager to review X, Y, and Z by April 16. No deadline for your own full review by April 20. And suddenly, it’s April 29 and you're in scramble mode.
Big goals are meant to be inspirational and aspirational. That’s the point.
But the realization of those goals? That happens in the small, consistent decisions we make each day to stay aligned.
Need help? Just reach out.