If you’re like most people, you have at least one or two goals you’d like to accomplish this year (if not, saving more money is a goal we recommend). But did you know that most of us start to give up on our goals or resolutions as early as the second week of January? One way to stick with it and make progress toward your goals is to enlist the help of an accountability partner.

If you’ve never heard of the concept, an accountability partner is simply someone you choose to help you stay accountable and reach your goals. Think of that person as a combination of mentor, coach and cheerleader. Not sure how to choose one or what to do once you have one? Take a look at how to make the most of an accountability partner.

Choose the Right Person

Your accountability partner should be someone you like, trust and respect. You’ll be having some fairly in-depth conversations, so you should feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings. Ideally, it should also be someone whose personality is different than yours. That way, they’ll be able to help you push past challenges. If you’re too similar, they’ll be more likely to let you slide on the things they struggle with, too.

Be Honest About Your Goals

One of the first conversations you’ll have with your accountability partner is sharing the goals you want to achieve. Going beyond that, it will also be helpful to share the “why” behind those goals, so your partner can remind you of it when needed.

For example, if your goal is to cut back your spending, your “why” could be that you’d like to achieve peace of mind and stop worrying so much about paying your bills every month. The “why” is the deeper reason and meaning behind the goal; determining it can help you be successful.

Formulate a Plan

Work with your partner to figure out the actionable steps you can take to reach your goals. Be specific and put a timeframe around when you want to achieve certain milestones. The more clear and direct you are about your goals, the more likely you are to achieve them.

Be Open to Feedback and Growth

The whole point of having an accountability partner is so they can hold you accountable. That means there will be times when they tell you things you need to hear (but probably don’t want to). Be open to their feedback and advice. Try to accept it without getting defensive. Remember, they are invested in helping you succeed, and their feedback is coming from a good place.

Stay in Communication

Check in regularly with your accountability partner. Use text messages, email, phone calls and face-to-face meetings to stay in touch and discuss milestones. Let them know when you’re having good days as well as when you’re struggling. They’ll be there to celebrate your successes and offer encouragement to keep going when your goal feels unattainable.