Battle Buddy

A few years ago the Army started a program where every soldier was given a battle buddy. The purpose of the program was to create partnerships between two people who could assist each other both in and out of the combat zone. I believe this program is a form of peer to peer mentorship. Working women need to incorporate a similar program into our lives. I’m not saying the your workplace is a combat zone, even though it may be. I am saying that if working women want to succeed, then they should have a professional support system in place. This peer to peer mentor is someone who is either going through the corporate office grind now or has already gone through it. For maximum impact, your battle buddy should be in the same or similar industry. One of the main benefits of a battle buddy is that they can relate your situation because they are living it with you.

My first battle buddy was a fellow female student in my college degree program. The first year of our college level science program was extremely difficult. I had never been challenged like that before in my academics. By the end of the first year, I could have easily given up and changed my major. But my battle buddy and I decided that they would stick together and make it through the program. Both of us successfully completed the program and graduated on time.

This same concept carries forward into the workplace. Working women need to find someone that they can talk with about things happening in their life. Finding a battle buddy in the workplace is often very difficult because you may be the only female in your office or the females in your office could care more about competition than cooperation. Whatever your circumstances are, it is important that you take the effort and find your battle buddy.

Once you find that person, you need to talk with them whenever you are doubting yourself. You should always get a second opinion from your battle buddy before you take any action based on what you don’t think you can do. Your buddy is there to talk with out about any and every item that you want. I recommend that you “keep it real” with your battle buddy. This means that if you need to laugh or cry with your battle buddy, then you feel comfortable doing so.

Climbing the corporate ladder is its own “battle”. You need someone who can help you navigate through the land mines. Ultimately, this will help you achieve your goals.


Who is your battle buddy?
Who can become your battle buddy?