How can social support improve your goal-setting success?

If you have ever set a personal or professional goal, you know how challenging it can be to stay motivated, focused, and accountable. Sometimes, you may feel like giving up or losing sight of why you started. That's why having social support can make a huge difference in your goal-setting success. In this article, you will learn how social support can help you overcome common obstacles, enhance your performance, and celebrate your achievements.

1 What is social support?

Social support is the network of people who care about you, encourage you, and help you in various ways. It can include your family, friends, colleagues, mentors, coaches, or online communities. Social support can provide you with emotional, informational, instrumental, or appraisal support. Emotional support is the expression of empathy, compassion, and understanding. Informational support is the provision of advice, feedback, or guidance. Instrumental support is the provision of practical or material assistance. Appraisal support is the provision of affirmation, validation, or recognition.

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Mick Rutjes

Training Leaders to Slow Down & Lead with Authenticity, so they Feel Balanced & Spiritually Aligned | Extraordinary Coaches Podcast | Children’s Story Writer | Traveler | Retreat Host
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Most people who are on a self-development journey start by setting goals for themselves. Sooner or later they will realize that many people in their direct environment don’t do that, and actually don’t even care. This can feel so lonely, and I’ve been there myself. Surrounding yourself with your tribe, your people, changes the whole game. It might take some time but you will find your people. They’re out there. People like you exist. So add finding them and being surrounded by them to your goal list.

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2 How can social support help you overcome obstacles?

One of the benefits of social support is that it can help you cope with stress, frustration, and setbacks that may arise during your goal pursuit. For example, if you encounter a problem or a failure, your social support can offer you a different perspective, a solution, or a coping strategy. They can also help you reframe the situation as a learning opportunity, rather than a personal flaw. Moreover, your social support can help you regulate your emotions, boost your self-esteem, and reduce your anxiety or depression.

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Mick Rutjes

Training Leaders to Slow Down & Lead with Authenticity, so they Feel Balanced & Spiritually Aligned | Extraordinary Coaches Podcast | Children’s Story Writer | Traveler | Retreat Host
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“He who’s seen successful in the eyes of others can never fail.” It’s a quote I heard once and it never left me. It is the power behind my coaching too - I see all of my clients as successful, powerful, and innately perfect. I see them big, and that’s what they will radiate.

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3 How can social support enhance your performance?

Another benefit of social support is that it can help you improve your skills, knowledge, and abilities related to your goal. For example, if you want to learn a new language, your social support can help you practice, correct your mistakes, or expose you to new resources. They can also help you set realistic and specific goals, monitor your progress, and adjust your strategies as needed. Furthermore, your social support can help you increase your motivation, commitment, and confidence by providing you with positive reinforcement, praise, or rewards.

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Lauren Auer, LCPC

Trauma Therapist | Writer | Private Practice Owner | Speaker | Content Creator
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Being surrounded by a social support system not only improves accountability, but it can also increase your overall health and wellbeing which will enhance your performance overall.

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Noemí Latorre Madrazo

People & Culture | Consulting | Coaching | Emotional Intelligence | Talent Development | Personal and Career Coach
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Sentir el apoyo y respaldo del grupo es clave para el éxito. Por un lado impulsa la motivación hacia la consecución del objetivo. Cuando la automotivación flaquea tienes una red que te ayuda a volver al foco. Por otro lado, sentir esta red de apoyo aporta seguridad, disminuyendo el miedo y el efecto de los factores estresantes que puedan jugar en contra.

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4 How can social support celebrate your achievements?

A third benefit of social support is that it can help you acknowledge and appreciate your accomplishments and milestones. For example, if you reach a target or complete a task, your social support can help you celebrate, congratulate, or thank yourself. They can also help you reflect on your strengths, growth, and lessons learned. Additionally, your social support can help you maintain your enthusiasm, satisfaction, and gratitude by sharing your success stories, testimonials, or feedback.

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5 How can you find and cultivate social support?

If you want to enjoy the benefits of social support, you need to find and cultivate a network of people who share your values, interests, and goals. You can start by identifying the existing sources of support in your life, such as your family, friends, colleagues, mentors, or coaches. You can also expand your network by joining online or offline groups, communities, or platforms that are relevant to your goal. For example, if you want to improve your fitness, you can join a gym, a sports club, or a fitness app. Once you have found your social support, you need to nurture and maintain your relationships by communicating regularly, expressing your needs and expectations, offering and receiving support, and respecting and trusting each other.

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Simon Gallagher

Career Advancement Coach for Stuck Professionals | Ex-Diageo | Published Researcher | EMCC Coach Practitioner | 1-1 Coaching | Workshops on Purpose, Motivation & Engagement
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Build a genuine online community Curate your online community based on your true values and interests, not others expectations. "Like" and engage with content that genuinely resonates with you. Cultivate a habit of connecting with people, aiming for genuine interactions over passive "following."

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6 How can a personal coach be part of your social support?

A personal coach is a professional who can provide you with personalized, holistic, and goal-oriented support. A personal coach can help you clarify your vision, identify your strengths and challenges, create and implement an action plan, and evaluate and improve your results. A personal coach can also help you develop your skills, mindset, and habits that are essential for your goal attainment. Moreover, a personal coach can be a source of emotional, informational, instrumental, and appraisal support throughout your journey. A personal coach can be a valuable addition to your social support network, as they can offer you unbiased, honest, and constructive feedback, guidance, and encouragement.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can social support improve your goal-setting success?

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1 What is social support?

2 How can social support help you overcome obstacles?

3 How can social support enhance your performance?

4 How can social support celebrate your achievements?

5 How can you find and cultivate social support?

6 How can a personal coach be part of your social support?

7 Here’s what else to consider

Personal Coaching

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How can social support improve your goal-setting success?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 What is social support?

2 How can social support help you overcome obstacles?

3 How can social support enhance your performance?

4 How can social support celebrate your achievements?

5 How can you find and cultivate social support?

6 How can a personal coach be part of your social support?

7 Here’s what else to consider

Personal Coaching

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