How to Find an Accountability Group
First of all, what is an accountability group?
An accountability group is a gathering of people who meet regularly to share their goals and support each other in achieving them. This can be an excellent resource for those who need extra motivation and like working in a team. Accountability groups can provide the confidence needed to achieve goals and feel empowered when making decisions.
Humans are naturally social creatures who thrive when being around others. Accountability groups are proven to help members reach goals. According to an accountability study done by The American Society of Training and Development, 65% of people are more likely to set and achieve goals when they share them with someone else. This number goes up to 95% when goals and aspirations are shared with a group that holds them accountable and meets regularly to review progress.
What goals can you achieve with an Accountability Group?
With numerous accountability group options available, beginning the search can feel overwhelming. Start your search for the perfect accountability group by making a list of all of your expectations. Narrowing down your search by determining what you want from it will make the search much easier and ensure you will find the right fit for you.
What kind of goal are you trying to achieve? Maybe it’s prioritizing health and fitness, advancing your career, or just staying on top of household chores. Having a group with others working on similar goals is crucial to the effectiveness of the group because it allows for collaboration and learning from others’ experiences.
Next, decide how often you want to communicate. Whether it's daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, find whatever fits best in your life. Not checking in with your group consistently can be the beginning of the end for an accountability group. In most cases, when someone isn’t checking in…. It means they aren’t sticking to their habit or goal. It’s our human nature to hide away when we aren’t sticking to something, but that’s the beauty of the right group – if you have a positive group, you should feel comforted that you can come back and get back into the groove.
How do you find an Accountability Group?
Here are 4 ways to find an accountability group – ranked from hardest to easiest.
Local community groups: One way to find an accountability group near you is to look at local businesses, community centers, gyms, and other organizations near you. For instance, maybe a local gym has a morning workout group.
Look for an in-person group on your specific topic: You can also use a resource like Meetup to find an existing in-person group or start a new one. People use Meetup to connect with new people, learn new things, find support, get out of their comfort zones and pursue their passions. There are groups that meet up to all speak in Spanish or Mandarin, there are book clubs, etc. This is a great way to meet people around you and discover if you have shared goals.
Interest groups on Facebook & Reddit: Facebook can be an excellent place to start when looking for people who are focused on the same topic / habit / routines. You can search for a Facebook Group or Subreddit and join it to scout out likeminded people. Even if the Facebook group isn’t the exact subject you had in mind, others in that group may be able to provide resources to get you closer to finding what you are looking for. You can also explore Reddit in the same way. From here, you can organize how you will stay in touch. Often people will post on these groups and share a Discord Server (like a group chat) that they’ve created. Or they’ll create a Whatsapp group. Make sure to share your time zone and expectations upfront so you are all on the same page.
Have someone else find a group for you, with Shelpful: If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed with the searching process and coordination that comes with forming a group, you should try Shelpful Groups. For this option, you can instantly join a group with others working toward a similar goal as you. The Shelpful team builds the group for you, so you don’t have to go around searching for it. Not only do you get the group element, but you also get a built-in accountability coach (called a “Shelper”) trained in supporting you, and helping you to work toward your goals. This option gives you the accountability coach resource at a bargain price tag. Fill out a quick form and get matched with a Shelpful Group.
What type of goals are you looking to reach with an accountability group? What questions do you have about how to best establish new habits in this setting?
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