How to Choose a Great Goal Buddy

Having a ‘Goal Buddy' to support you in achieving your dreams, encourage you when times get tough and help you find new inspiration, is a fantastic way to keep yourself motivated and focused on your goals.

So, what attributes will the perfect Goal Buddy possess?

1 – Someone who believes in you. We often look to share our goals with those close to us, but sometimes this can be a mistake. The people who love us don't always believe in us and they also have a strong incentive to protect us and often that protection comes in the form of dire warnings about not taking risks or stepping outside your or their comfort zones. They mean well but often they will hold you back.

A great Goal Buddy is someone who sees something in you that confirms your own belief and they don't necessarily have to know you well to feel that. One of my best goal buddies has only known me 3 months, lives a long way away and we only communicate by e-mail or occasionally phone.

2 – Someone who can listen well. The real aim of a good Goal Buddy is to be there as a sounding board for your ideas and questions. There is an old proverb; we all have two ears and one mouth and they should be used in the same ratio.

A good Goal Buddy will listen carefully, offer opinions and ideas when prompted, but sometimes will simply be prepared to be a sponge, soaking up your frustration and difficulty without comment and especially without judgement.

3 - Someone who has a clear external perspective. Often the reason someone close to you does not make the best Goal Buddy is because they are not detached from your outcome. For example, if you are starting your own business, their finances and future might be at risk as much as yours and that makes it difficult for them to see things clearly.

The ideal Goal Buddy has total detachment, apart from their desire for you to succeed, they will not be materially affected by your achievements and this allows them a much clearer perspective and the ability to see things that you can't.

4 – Someone who is good at solving problems. No matter how cleaver and creative you are, you will not be able to do everything on your own. A well chosen Goal Buddy will be skilled at coming up with possible solutions for the obstacles that you encounter along the way.

They do not need to be rocket scientists or math graduates, but an ability to reframe problems, look at issues from multiple angles and simply bring an alternative perspective will be invaluable.

5 – Someone with a good network. If after brainstorming the problem together, neither you or your Goal Buddy can find the solution, then it is great if they can call on a wider network of skills to help you out.

The best thing a Goal Buddy could possibly say, when all else fails is, Hey, I know someone who can do that, let's call him.

So if you are looking to identify someone to support you on the road to your goals, before you pick up the phone, measure them against this 5 point checklist and see if they are cut out to be the perfect Goal Buddy.