Peer Accountability

I always liked the saying "PR stands for not just public relations but also Peer Recognition." That peer recognition gives off accountability as well it is a good judge for life. You tend to change your characteristics based upon the people you associate with making it once again a true statement from you elders, "You are who hangout with."

How much does social support help motivate people? Lets follow a workout analogy, Standford University found that simply receiving a check-in phone call that asked about your progress every two weeks increased the amount of exercise participants did by 78% on average. Now that's only with phone in accountability.

In the Stanford University study, participants who had received those bi-weekly check-in phone calls were still exercising at the increased level even after 18 months. That is giving long term residual effects of group accountability.

Meanwhile, the Department of Kinesiology at Indiana University found that couples who worked out separately had a 43% dropout rate, while those who went to the gym together had only a 6.3% dropout rate.

Now from my research I believe these great success stories stems from the German industrial psychologist Otto Köhler in the 1920s. The Kohler effect is a phenomenon that occurs when a person works harder as a member of a group than when working alone. In my case my competitiveness comes out and I do not want to be the weakest link in the group so I push myself harder.

Caution: If you are with a group that you have plateau with or become discontent and you want more out of life there could be a chance king of the hill will take effect. The group instead of helping you will turn and start doing the opposite and will begin pulling you down if you get to high.

So make it a point to methodically search and connect with a group of individuals that push you to the next level. If they have your best interest at heart they will enjoy seeing you succeed and continuously striving to better your self. They will be your life coach and guidance in times of doubt. This is the case for working out as mentioned above, business, athletics, etc. "If you have always done what you always did, then you will always get what you always got." So push yourself because you deserve better and remember you are not alone with a group.

Today I have made an attempt to start joining groups that will push me to be better in the future than what I am today.

Better Everyday, In Every way.

References:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704314904575250352409843386

http://blog.codyapp.com/workout-partner-motivation exercises/#sthash.xJwTytVQ.dpuf