Whether you are making big changes to your life or simply chasing big goals; it is difficult to go it alone. Having the support of people with similar interests and passions greatly enhances your chances of success. It is important to have a good support network that you can bounce ideas off of and get feedback from. A good support network offers benefits that cannot be achieved otherwise.
Benefits of a good support network
A good support network will offer the following benefits:
- A sounding board for ideas
- Non-judgemental feedback
- Accountability – if you promise something and fail to deliver, they will challenge you on it
- Support through challenging times
- Helpful ideas and suggestions
- Networking opportunities
It is important to build the network slowly, selecting only people you deem to be trustworthy and supportive. There are many places where you might find suitable people for your support network. The following are just some examples:
Family
If you come from a close-knit family, this can be a great source of support. Your family members may already have a desire to see you succeed and so be willing to offer any support they can. This is not always the case. Family can be amongst our harshest critics, so, be careful and subject family members to the same considerations as you would anyone else.
Friends
Most friends will have shown a high level of support to you over a prolonged period. This suggests that they might be strong candidates for your support network. As with family members, due care and attention is needed when choosing friends as part of your support network. Friends can also be amongst our harshest critics. Also, sometimes we are friends only because we have always been friends. In other words, there is no real, close bond and the friendship has become a habit rather than a choice. These types of friends do not make strong candidates for your support network.
Mastermind groups
A mastermind group is where a group of people come together to offer mutual support in a specific area of life or business. The group works on synergy whereby the power of the group is more powerful than the sum of its parts. It is common for individual members of the group not to have known each other before joining the group.
A mastermind group provides an excellent opportunity to benefit from the knowledge, experience and expertise of others. The benefits can be amazing but only if the group is properly managed. A successful mastermind group must have a committed leader, a clearly defined area of focus and each member must be prepared to contribute. Where any of these factors are absent, cracks will begin to appear and the group will fail to function effectively.
Online communities
The internet provides plenty of opportunity for support. Regardless of your area of interest, there is likely to be a group, community or forum to offer you support. These communities often include knowledgeable, experienced individuals who love to share their wisdom with others. If you find the right community, you may be able to have any challenge or problem solved in a matter of minutes. The right community will help you to grow exponentially.
The problem with online communities is that they often carry a high population of people who think that they know it all. In fact, they rarely do. Differentiating these people from the sages can be a tricky task. Due care and attention; along with a little trial and error can be required to find the right people and the right community. However, once you have found them you will find that the effort was worthwhile.
A good support network is essential if you wish to make big changes or chase big goals. A good support network makes the tough times more bearable and the good times more frequent, more successful and more enjoyable. Building a good support network takes patience and persistence. There are many places to find the right people but it is just as easy to find the wrong people there. However, if you take the time and care to fill your support network with the right people; you will see your results accelerate.
Building a suppport network is just one of the critical goal setting strategies. Learn more in the Ultimate Guide to Goal Setting.