1. Identifying which sorts of support you want for different sorts of goals (and what sort of social interaction you do not want as well). There are many types of social support, including actual physical/financial assistance, specific advice, emotional support and a feeling of being involved in a common mission with others.
2. Asking people for the specific kinds of support that you want for specific goals (and to avoid social interactions that drain energy that could be used for achievement).  It may be helpful to ask for specific advice for one goal, emotional support for another and ask others to actually participate in another goal with you.  On the other hand, it may be helpful to ask others to avoid doing so with other goals (and to minimize time with people who do not honor your social support requests as much as possible).

For example: the goal “Complete an important project” could be modified for increased effective social support like this: “Ask John for advice on how to complete my project, then complete the project using the portions of his advice that I deem helpful.”  Or (if John regularly gives you advice that is not helpful or drains you in some way) you might set a Social Support goal like this: “Work on my project weekly in an area where I am not likely to be interrupted.”

The more effective types of social support you utilize (and the more you minimize unhelpful social interactions), the more likely it is you will experience high-quality achievement (and in some cases, strengthened relationships with others).

FINAL NOTE: If you were linked to this article by a video or email, please return to that link and proceed with any other instructions that you deem helpful.  For more Execution Excellence tips and tools visit our site at: www.excellencetree.com