How To Hold Yourself Accountable as an Agency Owner

Don't get us wrong, we love claiming that be your own boss energy. However, can we talk about how challenging it can be to make the shift into actually BEING your own boss and holding yourself accountable?

Living the freelancing or agency owner life in the social media world has so many perks - choosing your own schedule, taking off when you need it, making impactful decisions, actually doing what you love, and the list could go on. But, when you get rid of the 9-5, you are also getting rid of the external accountability that managers and team members provide, and shifting that accountability right within yourself. You become the one that has to keep yourself on track, set deadlines, and encourage yourself to be better (even when you straight up aren't feeling it), and that's difficult! Suddenly, I feel like I might be my own worst employee 😅

As an agency owner, holding yourself accountable is crucial for the success of your business. It helps you stay focused, achieve your goals, and maintain high standards for not only you but your team and clients, too.

Here are some strategies to help you hold yourself accountable

Set clear goals

Clearly define your business goals and objectives. We have regular conversations about social media goals, but what about your own personal and business goals? Write them down and refer to them regularly to stay on track. Then, go deeper. If you've read the book Atomic Habits, you probably remember his perspective on goals and how people set them, achieve them, and then it's all over. Or, they set them and don't even start them. Instead, break down goals into actionable tasks and systems to help you not only get there, but consistently stay there. Create a timeline and assign deadlines to each task, create systems, and create not only that motivation to do something, but the plan for how you'll do it.

Define your Boundaries

Create healthy boundaries and stick to them. Talk about accountability AND burnout prevention! Establish a routine and set aside dedicated time for important activities, aka time blocking! This includes all aspects of your business: clients, business development, team management, and personal development. Did you catch that? Yes, personal development, too! Are you taking the time to focus on yourself, even beyond the business?

Delegate

You can't do everything yourself! As much as we want to stay on top of everything and be involved in everything in our own business, sometimes taking a step back is exactly what you need. Delegate tasks to your team members and empower them. Not only will having a team and holding them accountable be helpful for time management, but it also helps you, too. They will need resources and support from you to complete their job effectively!

Find your community

Seek external accountability! Find an accountability partner or join a group! Sharing your goals and wins with others can provide external motivation and support. You can hold each other accountable, share insights, and exchange ideas, plus, who doesn't love having a business bestie in the lonely world of entrepreneurship?

We are more than just a community, we are a collective. Let us help you stay accountable, better your business, and scale!