Buddy Systems Work by Cindy Stradling CSP, CPC

Everyone needs a little motivation now and again to help meet important goals and stay on track for those plans we have. There are many things you can do to help you stay motivated, from visualizing your goals to writing goals down and posting them where they are visible on a daily basis.

One great way to help stay motivated is to have a buddy who helps you work toward your goals. When you work in tandem with someone else, you’ll likely find yourself staying on track more easily and feeling more motivated to stay the course. Here are three ways a buddy helps.

1. Buddies share your vision. Your buddy should be working toward the same goal or one that is very similar. When this is the case, you can count on your buddy to help keep you motivated by reminding you of the goal and of how great it will feel to reach that goal. When you have an off day, they will help you, and you will pull them up when they are down.

2. Buddies hold you accountable. It’s much more difficult to ditch your commitments to the goal when you know someone else is counting on you. In addition, you can count on your buddy to call you out when you aren’t putting in your share of the work.

3. Buddies help you celebrate. Victory is all the sweeter when you have someone with whom you can share the celebration. Working together toward a common goal makes reaching that goal even more rewarding.

There are many rewards to sharing your journey with someone who is walking the same path. Your buddy can be a motivator and a shoulder to cry on when times are tough. At the end of the journey, your buddy can share in your victory with a full understanding of the work and sacrifice you have both contributed. When you’re working hard to reach your goals, a buddy might be just the ticket to improving your motivation and your results.