6 Rules to be Successful

Article by: Geert Stradmeijer

Last update: May 21, 2022

6 Rules to be Succesful: this article describes 6 Rules to be Successful in a practical way. After reading you will understand the basics of this powerful Leadership theory.

The personal accountability model provides insight into what it means to be accountable. How can you contribute to your own success and that of your team as an individual? It perfectly reflects what real change brings about. It provides an answer to the question: HOW do we accomplish this? How do you do what is needed to contribute to your own success or to the success of your team, especially in difficult or tense situations?

Are you aware of this model as a leader? Here you will learn how it all works and you will learn how deal with your own and your team members’ victim mentality.

This model forms the basis of the accountability movement that was started by Mark Samuel (Impaq, USA, since 1979) which has now also become successful in Latin America and Europe.

For times when things are getting difficult!

Losing weight is a real change process classic. We kick start our diets well and properly. But there comes a moment that things get tense or difficult. That is the moment change announces itself. You start doubting your intentions. Do I really need to do this?

This is exactly what this model shows you. That you can make the decision in any ‘tense’ situation to do what you need to do every day (exercising and eating healthily). Do you make this conscious choice every day? Probably not, because old habits and ‘victim mentality’ lie in wait for you as they are part of human nature. The challenge is to know where you are at. Do I display a ‘victim’ mentality or accountable behaviour?

6 Rules to be Successful

Typical ‘victim’ mentality when things get difficult:

1. Ignoring

Just pretend it isn’t there. Do not step on the scales. Just choose clothes that make you look thinner.

2. Denying

Explaining away the problem. Denying it is there. “I am really not fat at all, I don’t have to lose weight.”

3. Blaming

If the first two weeks prove to be unsuccessful, you can always blame someone else for your problem. ‘My mother/partner/housemate/ friend often cooks such delicious food. How can I cannot resist eating this?!?

4. Rationalising

Finding proof to the contrary. ‘I have compared my weight in an Excel file against that of the average American and I am still way below that’.

5. Resisting

There is open and invisible resistance. Open resistance is: ‘I refuse to lose weight, because I do not need to lose weight. Why don’t people mind their own business? Smoking, now there is an evil habit….’ Invisible resistance is tougher to deal with: ‘I tell people I am on a diet, but when I am all alone I get on the sofa with a bag of crisps and I just tell them, that I can’t seem to lose any weight, no matter what I do.’

6. Hiding

Not in the literal sense of course. People are very creative at avoiding difficult situations. ‘I am so busy at work, that I really do not have any time to exercise /cook healthily’.

How can you do to stop victim mentality?

These simple examples illustrate how easy it is to slip back into old habits and the role of the victim when there is an intention to change. Becoming aware of typical victim mentality displayed by team members when things get too tense is an essential tool for a (change) manager. And believe you me, everyone has got one or two favourites. Share how this model works with your team and it will become easier to get yourself and the others back into the ‘top circle’.

It’s Your Turn

What do you think? Are the 6 Rules to be Successful applicable in your today’s world? Do you recognize the practical explanation or do you have more additions? What are your success factors for good personal and team performance including reviewing?

Feel free to share your comments and tips

More information

Samuel, Mark (2012). Making Yourself Indispensable: The Power of Personal Accountability. Penguin Books.
Samuel, Mark (2006). Creating the accountable Organization. Midpoint Trade books Inc.
Original Dutch blog post: https://www.rainmengroup.com/blog/schaf-de-functioneringsgesprekken-af/

How to cite this article:
Stradmeijer, G. (2017). 6 Rules to be Successful. Retrieved [insert date] from ToolsHero: https://www.toolshero.com/leadership/6-rules-to-be-successful/

Published on: 04/10/2017 | Last update: 05/21/2022

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Article by:

Geert Stradmeijer

Geert Stradmeijer is a Rainmaker at Rainmen. As a Rainmaker, he supports organizations in the care and public sector in the role of change and program manager. He does this by people- and team management where talents are leading, moving towards their desired end result, with no bullshit mentality and a lot of humor.