A coach listens. A mentor advises. A sponsor acts. But what is a personal advisory board?

Not sure of what to do next or how to achieve your goals? Have you ever wished you had someone to talk to who could offer you honest feedback, guidance, and support? A spouse is great to talk with, but do they know the internal politics, organizational rhythms, and personalities in your job? You might benefit from having a personal advisory board.

For me, a personal advisory board is a group of trusted mentors and advisors who can provide insight, wisdom, and accountability as you navigate life and work. Unlike a single mentor, a personal advisory board consists of multiple people with different perspectives and experiences, who can help you with various aspects of your professional development.

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For example, you might have a personal advisory board member who can answer questions about your current job, such as how to handle a difficult coworker, how to improve your skills, or how to guide you through internal politics. You might also have another board member who can help you with your next job, such as how to explore new opportunities, how to network effectively, or how to negotiate your salary. And you might have another board member who can help you get unstuck, how to deal with stress, or how to balance your work and life.

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Having a personal advisory board can help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction in your career. It expands your network of people you can lean on, go for direction, instruction, or just advice. A personal advisory board need not be a formal or fixed arrangement; it is a dynamic and flexible relationship that evolves over time. You can start building your board at any time in your career, and you can change or add members as your needs and goals change.

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The funny thing is, much of my Personal Advisory Board doesn’t realize that they’re my board. It just evolved there over time.?Here’s how I started to build and connect with potential board members:

• Think about the people you already know who have inspired you, challenged you, or supported you in some way. They could be your colleagues, managers, former peers, bosses, teachers, friends, family members, or anyone else who has influenced you positively. For me, they all need to be able to articulate their thoughts.
• You can either reach out to them and ask if they would be willing to be part of your personal advisory board (or just make them a de facto board the way I did). But, be clear why you value their input and what advice or guidance you are looking for. I’m always respectful of their time and availability.
• Keep in contact: I make it a point to talk with everyone on my Personal Advisory Board at least once every 6-9 months.?Sometimes it’s just a quick check in, other times it’s a “Hey can I get your thoughts about … “
• Bring some questions or topics to discuss with them and listen actively to their feedback. Yes, it’s important to be curious and respectful of their opinions but most importantly, be open-minded! Take the feedback even if it’s not what you wanted to hear. Always thank them for their time and counsel and follow up if you made a change or took their advice.

Remember that a personal advisory board is a two-way relationship. You should also offer your help and expertise to your board members whenever possible.

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For me, my Personal Advisory board is part coach, part mentor, and even part sponsor. But it’s a critical part of my success.

I hope this post has inspired you to create or expand your own personal advisory board. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them below. I would love to hear from you!

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Some resources to get started:

Why You Need A Personal Advisory Board: https://mentorloop.com/blog/why-you-need-a-personal-advisory-board/

Assembling Your Personal Board of Advisors: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/assembling-your-personal-board-of-advisors/

Your personal advisory board: The secret to a great career: https://www.cio.com/article/215762/your-personal-advisory-board-the-secret-to-a-great-career.html