On the FAQ page we summarise it briefly: the most common challenges during accountability mentoring are setting realistic goals, dealing with obstacles, and maintaining motivation. These are addressed through realistic planning, support, and identifying barriers. But what does that look like in practice?
Challenge 1: Defining clear goals
Many people start with goals that are either too big and vague (“I want to be more successful”) or too small, leaving too little challenge. According to Goal-Setting Theory by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham, goals that are both specific and challenging lead to significantly better performance than vague or easy ones (Locke & Latham, 2002, overview paper)
Approach in mentoring: instead of settling for “realistic” steps, we encourage ambitious goals – as long as they are clearly defined and translated into concrete actions. For example: instead of “I want more balance,” you work towards “three evenings per week offline after 8 p.m.” Ambition and feasibility do not exclude each other: you can dream big, as long as there is a practical path to get there.
Challenge 2: Dealing with obstacles
Everyone encounters hurdles along the way. These can be external factors (busy schedules, unexpected events), but just as often internal ones: limiting beliefs, procrastination, or patterns of self-sabotage.
Approach in mentoring: this is where follow-up makes the difference. During check-ins we explore what truly lies behind an obstacle. Is it poor planning, an underlying emotion, or a lack of prioritisation? By making the undercurrent visible, new strategies become available. Think of time-blocking for busy schedules, breaking through perfectionism, or learning energy-management techniques.
Challenge 3: Sustaining motivation
Many people start off enthusiastically, only to lose their drive after a few weeks. A meta-analysis by Harkin et al. (2016) with nearly 20,000 participants shows that regular progress monitoring is one of the most powerful behaviour-change strategies for maintaining motivation (Psychological Bulletin – PubMed).
Approach in mentoring: weekly follow-up makes progress visible and helps celebrate small wins along the way. In addition, the presence of a mentor adds both social support and a sense of accountability: you know someone is following along, which strengthens your determination to keep going.
Hal Elrod describes in The Miracle Morning how daily habits and small rituals can have a huge impact on motivation and success. Accountability mentoring connects seamlessly with this: it is about creating consistency and moving forward every day – no matter how small the step.
Final note: challenges as part of the process
Accountability mentoring is not about avoiding obstacles, but about learning how to navigate through them. Challenges are part of the journey – in fact, they are the very moments where growth happens. With clear goals, regular follow-up, and by making the undercurrent discussable, obstacles are transformed into learning opportunities and stepping stones forward.
Whether you are working individually on your personal growth or embedding accountability into your organisational culture, the essence is to keep moving consistently towards what truly matters to you.
Want to discover what this looks like in practice? Read more on Level Up Your Life or Level Up Your Company.
