Be a goal buddy
- Who
- Anyone a colleague picks as their goal buddy
- Where
- My Circle › Your goal buddies
- You see
- Their goals, certificates and validations
- Chosen by
- The colleague, when they set or edit a goal
A goal buddy is a colleague who helps someone reach a development goal: an accountability partner, a coach, or simply someone who cheers them on. When a colleague picks you as their goal buddy, you can follow their goal in My Circle.
How it works
In MuchSkills, people set goals to grow a skill or earn a certificate. Some set goals together with a coach, manager or leader, some set them on their own. Either way, they can pick a colleague as their Goal Buddy.
As a goal buddy, your job is to help that person reach their goal: by coaching, supporting, cheering and doing whatever you can to help. You might share what you know, point them to good learning, check in now and then, or celebrate when they get there.
Everyone who has picked you appears in My Circle, under Your goal buddies. You do not need to manage anyone to use it.
Steps
- Open My Circle. Click My Circle in the top menu.
- Open Your goal buddies. In the left panel, click Your goal buddies to expand it. The number next to it shows how many colleagues have picked you.
- Choose a colleague. Click their name. Their page opens with two tabs: Goals and Certs & Validations.
- Read their goal. On Goals, open the card: the target level, How they plan to get there, the tasks they listed and the month they want to achieve it by.
- Agree how you will help. Ask what kind of support they want. Someone who chose Seek Mentorship may want regular advice; someone on Self-training may just want a nudge now and then.
- Cheer them on. React to their goal card when they make progress, and celebrate when it moves to Completed.
Check it worked
- The colleague's name shows under Your goal buddies in My Circle.
- Their goal card shows your name next to Goal Buddy.
Tips
- Set a rhythm. A short check-in every couple of weeks keeps a goal alive. Put it in both your calendars.
- Ask, do not tell. "What is the next step?" and "What is getting in the way?" are more useful than advice they did not ask for.
- Share what you know. If you have learning material that helped you, add it to the Learning Library so it is linked to the skill. See Find and add learning.
- Know when to bring in the manager. If your colleague needs time, budget or a project to practise on, encourage them to raise it with their manager.
Troubleshooting
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| You have no goal buddies yet | Nobody has picked you as a goal buddy | Nothing to do. Colleagues pick buddies when they set goals |
| Welcome to My Circle with Create a team/org | You are not part of your organisation's team in MuchSkills yet | Open your invitation, or ask your manager for one |
| You cannot edit a colleague's goal | Goals belong to the person who set them, or to their manager | Suggest the change and let them update it |
Frequently asked questions
How do I become someone's goal buddy?
A colleague picks you under Pick a Goal Buddy when they set or edit a goal. There is no way to sign up as a buddy in MuchSkills. If you would like to help, tell a colleague you are happy to support them.
Where do I find the people I am a goal buddy for?
In My Circle, open Your goal buddies in the left panel. The number next to it tells you how many colleagues have picked you.
What can I see as a goal buddy?
Two tabs for each colleague: Goals, with their goal board, and Certs & Validations, with their certificates, validated skills and badges. You do not see their full profile history or gap analysis; that stays with them and their manager.
Can I change their goal?
No. The goal belongs to your colleague, and goals their manager set can only be changed by the manager. Suggest changes in conversation and let them update it.
How do I stop being someone's goal buddy?
Talk to your colleague. They can pick a different buddy when they edit the goal.
Do I have to be an expert in the skill?
No. Some buddies coach, others keep their colleague accountable or simply cheer them on. Knowing the skill helps, but being reliable matters more.