How to Create Accountability In 4 Steps
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Hi Friends,
Raise your hand if you've ever genuinely wanted to do something but failed to follow through...🙋♂️
I'm sure all of us have our hands up. It's normal for this to happen from time to time.
But, how often does it happen to you?
Do you tell yourself you’ll do something—but deep down, do you truly believe it? Or, do you doubt you’ll follow through?
Life's defeating when our daily intentions don't align with our actions.
I call this the execution gap. And, it's common among neurodivergent adults with weaker executive function skills.
The execution gap creates a delay in taking action or making change. This can have serious consequences in small and big ways:
Saving money for retirement
Creating a weekly workout regime
Catching up with an old friend
I know the feeling.
I've put off opening a new retirement account for over a year. Think of the money that could be earning interest right now...instead, it sits in a checking account.
If you're facing the execution gap, I have the solution: outsource accountability.
But that's much easier said than done, right?
Over the past year, I’ve learned a lot about accountability: what works, what doesn’t, and how to ask for it. Today, I’m sharing how you can create accountability in four steps and actually get stuff done.
Let’s dive in.
Why Jason Couldn't Take Action
One of my clients, Jason, felt stuck in his job. For over a year, he wanted to make a change but hadn’t done anything about it.
Fear
Fear was holding him back. It’s a common barrier to taking action.
He said things like, "Even if I finish my resume, it won't be good enough."
Overthinking
Even after breaking his plan into the smallest possible steps and focusing only on starting the first one, Jason couldn't bridge the execution gap. Another week passed without progress.
Instead of rewriting his resume for 30 minutes, he sat on the couch, thinking about how unhappy he was, beating himself up for not taking action.
He didn’t trust himself to follow through. He and I needed to create accountability.
How Jason Started to Get Things Done
So, we decided to outsource accountability. We created his “Board of Directors”. For six weeks, I served as his CEO, holding him accountable.
My role was clear: remind him of the steps, share tools when he felt stuck, and apply gentle pressure to help him start.
Six weeks later, Jason had updated his LinkedIn profile, completed his resume, and held two networking calls. 🤯
More importantly, Jason rebuilt trust in himself. Now, when he sets a goal, he knows how to ask for accountability and execute.
Why Do We Need Accountability?
If we want to do difficult things, accountability isn’t optional.
As human beings—and especially as neurodivergent adults—we thrive with accountability. Relying solely on motivation to do hard things isn’t effective.
For neurodivergent adults, like those with ADHD, this is especially true. Challenges with executive function skills, like task initiation, make starting tasks—particularly ones without immediate rewards—exceptionally difficult.
Accountability helps bridge the execution gap. It’s a support system that reduces the cognitive and emotional load of starting or sticking with challenging tasks.
Want to learn more about executive function coaching for adults?
We know developing accountability isn't easy. That's what executive function coaching is for!
Schedule your no-cost inquiry meeting today. 👇
When Should I Ask for Accountability?
Accountability is most effective for starting or stopping tasks and behaviors that feel overwhelming or boring. Some common examples are:
Screen time
Leaving home on time
Starting a long-term project for work
Keeping living spaces organized
Exercise and self-care
If you’re unsure where to start, ask yourself: “What is one thing I say I will do, but rarely follow through with?"
How to Create Accountability in 4 Steps
You can create accountability in four steps:
Build your board of directors
This is a group of 2-5 people you deeply trust. Look for qualities like compassion, honesty, curiosity, and a willingness to call you out when you need it.
You can learn specific steps to build a powerful Board of Directors in my previous blog, here.
Clarify your shared purpose
Set clear goals and define the type of accountability you need with everyone on your Board. Make sure they understand your goal and why you need accountability.
Example:
I need accountability to update my budget spreadsheet once per month because I want to save for retirement.
Establish cadence and communication
Agree on how and when you’ll check in. Be specific!
What day and time will you communicate?
Will this be through a text, email, phone call, or FaceTime?
What should they do if you don’t respond within 24 hours?
Example:
Before the last day of each month, I will text you saying, “Budget update done!”.
If you don’t receive this text, can you check in on me with a text?
If I don’t reply within 24 hours, text me again saying, “I’m playing my accountability role. Do you want to meet and update your spreadsheet together?”
Ask for additional support
If you’re still struggling to fill the execution gap, ask your Board for more active support. Body doubling is my favorite neurodivergent coworking strategy!
What do People Ask for Accountability For?
I compiled a list of the five most common things my clients ask for accountability and how we establish follow-through:
Reduce Screentime - Share a screenshot of screen time every Friday.
Improve Time Management - Send a text when leaving for work.
Start Tasks - Send a photo of starting a task at an agreed-upon time.
Organize the Home - Text when starting to fold laundry and a picture when it’s done.
Exercise/Self-Care - Send a text when starting a workout or meditation and a photo when it’s done.
Summary
For neurodivergent adults, the execution gap is a challenge. When our intentions don’t align with our actions, accountability can help. Pick one goal you’re struggling with and take these steps:
Build your “board of directors” with people you trust.
Define the support you need and how you’ll check in.
Start small with one task or habit.
Ask for additional support, like body doubling, when you need it.
You don’t have to do this alone. With the right accountability system, you can take consistent steps toward your goals and rebuild trust in your word.
I hope this is helpful. ✌️
P.S.
If you want to work on your adult executive function skills, consider joining dozens of others who graduated from our Adult Executive Function Skills 101 course. This course teaches you skills to strengthen your time management, personal finances, and more. Learn more.
About the Author
Eric Kaufmann is a Professional Educational Therapist and Certified Executive Function Coach. He is the Co-founder of UpSkill Specialists, an online adult executive function coaching company that guides adults in overcoming disorganization, procrastination, and productivity roadblocks so they can unlock their potential. He is also the founder of Elevate Learning Solutions, an Educational Therapy practice located in San Clemente, CA, that supports neurodivergent students in becoming independent and confident.