Working Wednesday: How To Make The Most Out Of An Accountability Partnership

Here are a few ideas on how to make that happen:

1. Have regularly scheduled meetings
   • Choose daily, weekly or even monthly, depending on your needs  (i.e. every Monday at 8am, or daily at 8am)
   • Consider the time zone each of you is working in and agree to a time that is likely not going to need to be rescheduled
   • Agree to a closing time for the meeting, so that the meeting doesn’t become cumbersome. Keeping meetings short and sweet will keep both parties focused and on task.
2. Set clear goals and break them into bite-sized pieces
   • Larger goals (i.e. “Become a prolific audiobook narrator”)
   • Medium-sized goals (i.e. “Narrate First audiobook”)
   • Smaller-sized goals (i.e. “Record chapters 1 through 3”)
3. Agree about what will be discussed during meetings
   • Larger goals – Typically discussed annually as part of a business plan meeting held at the beginning of each year
   • Medium-sized goals – Typically discussed monthly
   • Smaller-sized – Typically discussed weekly or daily
   • Obstacles – Troubleshoot how to move past them as they occur
   • Celebrations – Share accomplishment with your partner as they happen. After all, they play a key role in your success!
4. Track your progress: Tracking our progress is great way of keeping ourselves accountable. Just the act of writing a goal down increases our chances of success.
   • Use a shared cloud based system as a convenient way to stay organized and efficient. Ex: Google Docs or Evernote.
   • Check off the box next to each goal you set and achieve. Seeing our goals achieved in a visual way  can feel really satisfying.
   • Take note of how long a goal remains on your list. Seeing a goal sit on a list for a long length of time is a great reminder that it needs to become a priority.
5. Evaluate the accountability partnership regularly, by asking:
   • Does the working relationship inspire greater productivity?
   • Are both partners contributing to the process in an efficient and organized way?
   • Are both partners reliable when it comes to meeting at regularly scheduled times?
   • What could be changed in the structure of the working relationship to increase accountability and efficiency?

Each accountability partnership is unique, so don’t be afraid to make it your own. As long as your goals are being met at a steady pace and you two are making strides in your career, consider this relationship a success! Otherwise, make changes to the structure of how you are working with the goal of getting better results. For example, try changing the frequency or duration of meetings or make improvements how progress is being tracked. If all else fails, consider respectfully terminating the accountability partnership. Like any relationship, sometimes it’s just not a good fit. Chances are, that if it’s not working for you, it’s likely not working for your partner either. With an ocean of capable and inspiring people available, you are sure to find another fish out there that is perfect for you!  

PRO tip: A great way to find an accountability partner is to connect with other VO talents. 

                                           About the Author

Kelley Huston caught the acting bug at the ripe young age of 8 and has been at it ever since. After finishing college with a degree in Theater Arts, she stepped into a vocal booth and felt immediately at home. With over two decades of experience behind her, Kelley brings a sense of approachable confidence and a playful wit to her reads. She is skilled at a range of styles, but is known for her authentic and genuine delivery. Her commercial & narration clients include Adidas, Suburu, Lean Pockets, Fisher-Price, American Greeting Cards, Target, Aquafor and Dell Computers to name a few. She also voiced Catwoman in Sony Online Entertainment’s Playstation game, DC Universe Online and has enormous experience as a narrator for eLearning courses. Kelley also has 10 years of experience as a line producer in the commercial industry, giving her a unique perspective on voiceover within the field of advertising. A few of her production credits include major brands such as Lowe’s, Nike, Purina, Kellogg’s and Anheuser-Busch. She finds coaching to be incredibly rewarding. Being able to share her enthusiasm and experience with students is a real treat.