90 Seconds to Be Inspired

As a coach, I hear managers’ struggles and triumphs on a daily basis. One struggle that continues to rear its ugly head is "accountability". 

Sometimes accountability for ourselves and sometimes, holding others accountable. 

Why is it so hard? Here’s what I came up with journaling this morning:

“Joy, this is supposed to be the inspiring section!!!” Right, right, sorry. Thanks for holding me accountable ; ) Let’s bring it back to the inspiring words of James Clear:

_{“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” James Clear}

So how do we set realistic goals we can actually achieve? “Systems of Accountability” may be the answer, my friends. In the next section I’ll share a few examples of these systems that are working for my clients and me.

90 Seconds to Learn a Little

Adaptability & consistency are linked? Phew.

Here are a few examples of “systems of accountability” that take into account adaptability & consistency that may help. I know because they are mine ; )

As a manager/leader:

• Recognition can be easy to forget when the work week gets busy. Set a reminder on your calendar each Friday for 15 minutes to think about who deserves recognition that week, then share it. (It’s very simply called "recognition" on my calendar)

• In one on ones, I have a bullet on the agenda that says, “feedback, both ways” - these three little words are a powerful call to action for both my team member and me, to prepare for and give each other feedback each week.

• Anytime I delegate a project or task, I ask the person - "How would you like to keep me informed about your progress? And how will we know if you’re on the right track?” These questions first give accountability to them but also usually prompt a system of accountability to be created such as - “I’ll create a shared doc that will showcase progress in a simple “green, yellow, red” framework. Each week, I’d appreciate it if you’d review before our 1 on 1. If any area is yellow or red, it means it’s at risk or I’m stuck and I’d appreciate spending time on it when we meet. If it’s green, we don’t even need to talk about it!” I love this one in particular because it also enables your team to bring a system of accountability back to you!

As a human: 

• I have a daily question I ask myself when I wake up: who needs me the most today? Then, how can I make sure my calendar reflects that? This morning, for example, I was planning on going to a workout class, but I’m traveling all next week and my kids are pretty sad about it - so I decided this morning my kids need me the most today. So, I’m doing breakfast and drop off today to get some extra time with them. I swapped two zooms for phone meetings so I can take a walk, and voila! Consistency is about being adaptable. 

• Once a month, I block 2 hours on my calendar for reflection. I make space to think about the month past, what was great, what was hard, and write down my learnings. This is a powerful system of accountability for me because new ideas always spring from these moments of reflection. 

Often it’ the simplest rituals are the best systems of accountability.

I’d love to hear about the systems of accountability that are working for you!

90 Seconds to Connect

Last time, we talked about the “Campsite Rules”—the idea of leaving things better than you found them. I asked you to share your stories of how this simple principle has made an impact, and two responses about motherhood really struck me.

The first was from someone who’s empowering women and mothers by teaching them AI literacy to reduce their mental load. Her goal isn’t about doing more but making space for what matters most. It’s a way of ensuring that working mothers—present and future—are set up to thrive in ways she may not have been. You can check out what she’s built here!

The second came from a parent who described how their babysitter applies the Campsite Rules in reverse—leaving them better off by tidying up toys and packing lunch for the next day, even though caring for the kids is the only expectation; she’s creating a ripple of ease and care for the family she supports.

Both examples remind us that leaving things better than you found them doesn’t always mean big, sweeping actions. Sometimes, it’s about those thoughtful, human touches—using your skills, your care, or your foresight to lift someone else’s burden.

“While it may be impossible to quantify in financial terms the impact of making someone feel good, don’t think for a second that it doesn’t matter. In fact, it matters more.” ― Will Guidara, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect

Help me expand my inner circle

My company, ScaleJOY, has delivered quality experiences to hundreds of clients and has grown solely by word of mouth referrals. Spread the joy by sharing this newsletter, or connect them directly to me for leadership development, coaching, or offsite facilitation. Thank you for your continued support!