Day 3: Accountability is THAT Girl

Click HERE to listen to the audio version

Welcome to Day 3! 

So how was Day 2? Were you able to get a real, look at your numbers, see where you are and plan where you want to go? If you didn’t finish, it’s okay. It’s about starting and making a commitment to finish because as you’re building your empire, there will be SO many numbers you have to contend with every day, week, month. 

Today we are looking at your team and setting the communication foundation with them. Whether you’re a team of 2 or 200, this is something you’ll have to do as the leader. So let’s get into it. 

Today’s LEVEL UP Coaching  

When you’re leading your team for your company, it’s HIGHLY important that you have an accountability policy in place. You may know this, or perhaps you’ve never created one. 

As a small business owner, we wear so many hats and oftentimes you are hiring contractors to help you out with certain things and you’re not necessarily thinking about the relationship that you’re embarking on. 

When you hire someone you’re inviting them into the sacred environment that you’ve created within your company (Company Culture) and it’s important that you not only set up the expectations for the job tasks they need to perform, you need to set the tone for how you will communicate and how you will address problems when they arise. 

Because they will. 

Now let’s be clear, in many corporate environments and other business structures you may have worked in before starting your own business, you may have encountered harm around this. 

Bosses who have snapped at you, gaslit you, or passive aggressive coworkers who blame shifted, or even utilized microaggressions to evade responsibility and accountability. I can’t be the only one who has experienced this.

So how did those environments feel? Gross right? Did they leave you questioning self-worth or have an adverse effect on your mental health? Yeah, I thought so. 

Workplace trauma is real and it doesn’t matter where you come from, if you’ve worked in our current structures and you’re a person with multiple intersecting identities, it’s inevitable you’ve encountered some of this.

This is the OPPOSITE of what you’re building. You’re building an empire that centers health and well-being. An environment that creates inspiration, and ALSO addresses issues in a considerate and human way. 

We are not here to build businesses that cause more harm to our communities in the interest of capitalism. Nah. 

Your LEVEL UP Homework

FIRST STEP: 

I want you to reflect on when you’ve had a conflict with someone else in your personal or professional life. Whether someone expressed disappointment with you or you were upset about something that happened between the two of you. 

How would you have wished they would’ve handled it? 

How do YOU wish you would’ve handled it? 

Do you wish you would have shared how you were feeling in the moment? 

Do you wish they would have acknowledged their part in the conflict? 

Do you wish they would have given a plan or strategy for what’s next? 

Use the worksheet attached to this email and write this down. 

I know this part of the homework may bring up some feelings for you or even feel like revisiting some old trauma in your body. While it’s important to excavate and learn from these experiences, do what you need to take care of your mind, body, and heart while you’re in this process.

If that means take a break, do it. If that means calling someone, do it. There are also tons of embodied practices that can help you move though harder emotions like somatic practices, EMDR, or even talk therapy. I recommend doing whatever you can to acknowledge what you feel so you can release it (if you desire to) and turn it into medicine to take you up a level.

NEXT STEP: Set the Standard 

Now, it’s time for you to decide what you want to create in the structure of your business to address conflict. 

This is your standard. However, I want you to abide by it. If you want to address accountability, as a leader it’s also your responsibility to be an example of the environment you want to create and what you want others to live into. 

So it’s time to write down the policy. 

If you have an issue or conflict within your company what will be your steps for addressing it? 

How will you and your team be radically accountable to each other? 

IRL Example: For one of clients, their policy is very simple: 

1. Acknowledge the issue or harm caused 
2. Listen intentionally. 
3. Take accountability/responsibility. 
4. Apologize. 
5. Create and State - The plan for how you’ll prevent the issue in the future. 

Now it’s your turn. 

The most important part of this policy is the acknowledgment. We can’t afford to be in environments where everyone is playing “nice” and never being honest or real about what’s happening. That’s a breeding ground for toxicity and trauma. 

We need to be responsible for how our companies operate in this world with the intention. 

IG CHALLENGE: To win the spot in Unbreakable! 

• Post a portion of your homework reflection or your new accountability policy to your Stories with caption “Day 3”  
• Tag me (@jwilliamsesq) in your homework story and use the hashtag: #levelupchallenge

If you complete the entire challenge you will be entered to win a spot in my brand NEW Business Program “Unbreakable” Check out all the details here. 

Now you’re in it on that next level. I applaud your focus and commitment to this process. 

See you tomorrow for Day 4…this when we get into my trade, legal! You can’t be without it, so let’s face it head on. 

I can’t wait. 

See you then. 

Cheers to your Empire, 

Jo-Ná

DAY 3: Accountability Policy Worksheet