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A successful business requires the right balance of strategy, commitment and dedication. It’s now not enough to have a great idea and put some effort into it. To stay relevant, we’d like to know how to keep pace with the changing business landscape. Otherwise, we risk being left behind or missed altogether. The fear of falling behind often causes us to take on too much. We overwhelm ourselves, making it difficult to keep commitments. Before we know it, we discover ourselves lost in the noise, trying to sustain with our own goals. Ironically, our desire to succeed can sometimes be our biggest obstacle. Instead of facing the challenges, we take a few steps back. Why do we sabotage our success?
The truth is, irrespective of how hard we try to cope with all the things, there’ll at all times be things that go our way. This means that we’ll not at all times give you the option to provide results 100% of the time. In times like these, accountability is the best weapon we have at our disposal. This is what keeps us on track and keeps us moving forward. However, it is also the thing we regularly struggle with the most. Even though we wish to be responsible, it doesn’t seem to occur. What’s stopping us? Why is responsibility such a challenge for many of us? What is the real reason we struggle with this?
Perpetrator
Being accountable is hard, but the real reason we struggle could also be simpler than you think. This is not because we’re lazy or don’t manage our time well. Our lack of responsibility comes from a misunderstanding of our basic human nature. If you look at what we are called to do, you will discover that we naturally avoid things that are difficult and uncomfortable. Our brains are programmed to seek pleasure, not pain. And being responsible is not comfortable, so naturally our mind creates a barrier between us and responsibility. This barrier is often called our ego.
Our ego serves as a defense mechanism, creating a comforting illusion of control and competence in our lives. It’s our mind’s way of protecting us from the harsh reality of our flaws. Whether we are aware of it or not, this creates resistance that affects the way we fulfill our commitments. When we face challenges or risk falling in need of expectations, our ego gets in the way of protecting our self-esteem. As a result, we cling to excuses and justify our every flaw. The desire to protect our self-image causes us to repeat the same avoidant behavior until it becomes a habit. Relying on our ego to protect us all the time affects the way we run our business.
Research by Yin et al., published in the January 2022 issue of Social Psychological and Personality Science, found that influential individuals or people in key positions are more likely to blame others fairly than take responsibility. This is because as humans we prefer to point fingers fairly than face our problems. We prefer to deny it fairly than let others know that we have problems. Let’s be honest, at some point in our lives we are guilty of playing the blame game to feel higher. However, this cycle of ego-driven behavior only leads to self-sabotage in the future. So if we are conditioned to avoid discomfort, how can we be responsible for it?
Breaking the barrier
The excellent news is that although our ego may prevent us from being responsible, it doesn’t suggest we are doomed to failure. Once we discover this barrier and understand its impact on our behavior, we will take steps to overcome it. Here are some ways to start destroying your ego:
Understand what responsibility really means:
One of the biggest misconceptions about accountability is that it equates to perfection. Many of us consider that to be responsible, we must fulfill our obligations flawlessly and not make mistakes. Instead of improving ourselves, we change into perfectionists and punish ourselves when we make a mistake. This makes us associate responsibility with punishment. In the future, this suffocates us until we now not feel the separation between punishment and responsibility.
This belief couldn’t be further from the truth. We are not gods. In reality, we make mistakes and there is nothing incorrect with that. We just need to understand that responsibility implies that we are responsible for our mistakes. This means we will admit our mistakes, learn from them, and commit to doing higher next time. With this transformation in our understanding, we do not have to beat ourselves up every time we make a mistake. We can now think more clearly and use this chance to solve problems without fear of our mistakes.
Learn to accept discomfort:
Just knowing what our ego can do is not enough to be responsible. We must give you the option to accept discomfort and let our ego take a backseat. For this to occur, big changes are needed. However, making changes is hard. Few are able to let go of their beliefs and embrace the changes that come with responsibility. Without the will to change, it shall be difficult to commit and change into responsible. This normally happens because we have conflicting desires inside us – one that pushes us to be higher and one that pulls us towards comfort. This creates conflict in our minds and makes it difficult to take coherent motion. If we truly want to move forward, we must resolve this internal conflict and accept that discomfort is a part of our journey to accountability. But how do we do this? What makes responsibility uncomfortable in the first place?
Accountability acts like a mirror. It reflects all the things, including what we don’t need to see. It shows us not only the good sides, but also the flaws and imperfections. Noticing our mistakes shows the difference between what we think we will do and what we actually can do. This awareness might be uncomfortable because it often triggers our desire to avoid shame and guilt. However, we must understand that these emotions are not enemies, but indicators that we are invested in our success and personal development.
We shouldn’t feel uncomfortable about it and we should always learn to accept it. Acceptance does not guarantee an easy path, but it gives meaning to each difficult step taken towards development. So the next time you feel uncomfortable with responsibility, try to embrace it as an alternative of pushing it away. This is a sign that you are making progress towards becoming a more responsible person.
Rely on the right people:
Let me tell you a easy fact: no one might be responsible alone. While commitment might be an individual effort, being accountable requires support from the right people. Just like a tree needs strong roots to grow, we’d like a solid network of individuals willing to hold us accountable. These people can’t be just anyone, because our responsibility also depends on who holds us accountable.
When it comes to selecting the people we surround ourselves with, it is extremely essential to select individuals who are not only confident in themselves, but also have great visions for the future. People who feel secure provide a stable and supportive environment in which vulnerability is not only accepted but supported. This secure space is fundamental to fostering accountability because it allows us to openly share our challenges and failures without fear of judgment.
Additionally, surrounding ourselves with visionaries who have big dreams and aim high inspires us to raise our own aspirations and go beyond our comfort zone. These people are living proof that great things are possible, motivating us to pursue our goals with renewed energy and dedication.
Most importantly, you need someone who shall be willing to tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear – someone who will give you the option to hold you accountable for your actions and decisions, irrespective of how uncomfortable they might be. is to be. Because without someone to control us, we will easily fall back into old habits and proceed to let our ego dictate our behavior.
True accountability is not a corporate initiative that might be directed from the boardroom. It is a deeply personal commitment to participate in every a part of our lives. Indeed, it is easier to simply avoid responsibility and live in bed with our excuses. But ultimately, making a conscious effort to select responsibility is the same as selecting yourself. It’s about keeping your word and taking responsibility for your personal development.
So don’t let your ego hold you back. Take on the challenge and achieve perfect results with responsibility. In the end, there is no greater reward than taking your life back and achieving success on your personal terms. So go ahead, take the first step towards responsibility and watch your life change for the higher.