A solopreneur is an entrepreneur who, well, works solo. It’s a one-person show, which can be a blessing and a curse. No office politics or dysfunctional co-worker relationships to deal with, but it can be lonely. Solopreneurs may like operating independently overall, but not having an officemate can lead to a lack of motivation, procrastination, and feeling overwhelmed.

One strategy the solo entrepreneur can employ is to get an accountability partner or coach, a person who helps you set your course and then stay on it. You may have already used an accountability partner without even knowing it. If you’ve ever joined a weight loss program that had you weighing in weekly or hired a personal trainer to keep you on your fitness path, you’ve used an accountability partner. Life coaches also help fill that role by helping you chart (and stay on) a course toward your desired future. Or maybe you and a friend wanted to create some new healthy habits and agreed to help each other stick to the plan.

I recently read about two solopreneurs who talk in the morning to set their individual goals for that day together. They then connect later in the day to see how they’ve done. Knowing that they have to report on how well they stayed on task helps to keep them on target.

Accountability partners help solopreneurs in a number of ways, including:

• Assisting in the setting of realistic and achievable goals and creation of a viable plan to achieve them;
• Providing an external source of motivation, encouraging solopreneurs to stay focused and committed to their goals;
• Offering support and encouragement during both successes and setbacks;
• Giving objective feedback, constructive criticism, and external viewpoints, which can lead to identification of the solopreneur’s blind spots, more creative lines of thought, and better decision-making; and
• Impacting problem-solving by suggesting new solutions or resources of which the solopreneur may have been unaware.

Not everyone needs an accountability partner, but if you think you might benefit from one here are some things you should keep in mind:

• Identify Your Goals for the Relationship: What do you hope to achieve through this partnership? Walking into this without knowing what you want to get out of it can lead to confusion and won’t help you move forward.
• Define Your Partner Profile: Look for someone who matches your communication style, has similar goals and values, will be honest but also kind, and will commit to the work.
• Communicate Your Expectations: Let your partner know from the outset what you need, what you are hoping to achieve, and how the two of you should work together. Define the frequency and format of check-ins. If this relationship will be two-way, meaning you will serve as your partner’s accountability coach as well, make sure that you both agree on these expectations, and, if you think it will help, write it down. 
• Be Honest and Transparent: If you didn’t hit your benchmarks, be truthful with your partner. If one of your goals was to reach out to five prospective clients and you didn’t make one single call, report it and be prepared to talk about why. Misrepresenting your actions or outcomes does not help you. You don’t need an accountability partner if you aren’t going to tell the truth. And, if you are also serving as your partner’s coach, be honest with them. They deserve your genuine feedback and don’t need you to sugar-coat anything. It is possible to tell the truth and be kind at the same time.
• Adjust as Needed: The relationship should be flexible and able to be modified. If checking in daily is too much or you’ve identified too many goals to address at once, be willing to pivot.
• Celebrate Achievements: While an accountability partner exists to keep you on track, the relationship should also allow for recognition of successes. They say “nothing succeeds like success,” and achieving your goals and celebrating that helps keep you motivated and moving forward.

Whether you are hiring an accountability coach or partnering with a peer to keep each other on track, working with someone who will help you stay focused and motivated is a powerful tool for anyone. Solopreneurs can find the strategy particularly beneficial, helping them to overcome the downside of working alone, be more productive, and achieve greater success.