Accountability group: The benefits of an accountability group
I have been a member of an accountability group since 2020. I have found it massively beneficial to my proofreading business. So throughout this blog, I explain the benefits.
1. Reassurance
It is great to connect with fellow professionals in your line of work. You can talk about how everything is going, and they understand as they are going through the same. It is reassuring and brings clarity to what you are doing.
"Responsibility equals accountability equals ownership. And a sense of ownership is the most powerful weapon a team or organization can have." ― Pat Summitt
2. Challenge
Discussing your business with fellow professionals pushes everyone on and develops ideas. You can bounce off each other and challenge each other to grow your business. You may try things you never thought you would, like Tik Tok.
3. Commit
Each month you can set targets to work towards and knowing you will be discussing them at the end of the month pushes you to complete them all.
"Accountability separates the wishers in life from the action-takers that care enough about their future to account for their daily actions." ― John Di Lemme
4. Support
Working from home in a freelance role can be quite lonely, but I have found being in an accountability group really makes me feel like I am not alone. I feel like part of a team. We engage on social media, message each other, meet on zoom regularly and really support each other. I feel I can ask any question I need help with.
5. Some members of my accountability group
The group I belong to is great because there is a mixture of proofreaders, copyeditors and copywriters all working with different genres. It brings a variety of experiences, background and strengths together to support each other.
Claire Cronshaw (founder of the group)
A proofreader and copyeditor specialising in indie fiction. Her academic background is in English Literature, and she is a qualified teacher.
Judith Coyle
A copywriter, editor and PR person specialising in working with entrepreneurs, businesses, sole traders, artists, writers and charities. Her academic background is in English Literature and journalism.
Dr Andrew Hodges
A book editor specialising in developmental editing and line-editing working in narrative social sciences and humanities and fiction (especially science-fiction and fantasy). His background is in academic research in social anthropology and the history of science, technology and medecine.
Sharon Gray
A proofreader specialising in fiction. In non-fiction, she specialises in cookery, sport and business. Her background is in financial administration.
"Wisdom stems from personal accountability. We all make mistakes; own them... learn from them. Don't throw away the lesson by blaming others." ― Steve Maraboli
I love being part of an accountability group.
To find out more information, visit my website and see samples of my proofreading.
I am a freelance proofreader and a qualified teacher with a maths degree and a love of learning. Thank you for reading 'Accountability group: The benefits of an accountability group'. Want to find out more from my top tips from 2021?
Check out my blog "2021: Top tips from a proofreading business" on my website www.alisonproofreader.com, or say hello on Twitter at @alisonproofread, or Instagram at @alisonproofreader, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn.
Quotes from:
https://www.inc.com/gordon-tredgold/49-quotes-that-will-help-you-avoid-the-blame-game.html