Developing a Personal Advisory Board

I discovered early in life that my knack for connecting with others and forging friendships was one of my greatest strengths. Growing up as a military dependent, adapting to new communities hinged on building relationships, making my experiences in different locations more enjoyable. This ability to establish connections, coupled with my extroverted personality, helped me excel in forming friendships and proved valuable professionally in networking.?

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Over time, I've recognized that people are one of the most valuable resources on earth. Learning from others, gathering information, and being made aware of opportunities all stem from my interactions with people. Recently, during a staff retreat, we delved into our ethical decision-making styles, and an assessment by Nicholas Lennon revealed that I align with the "elephant" style. This approach involves consulting with others before making decisions, seeking diverse thoughts, and basing choices on what serves the group.?The assessment we took was the "AnimalColor Focus" assessment. I have included the link below: https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/5f16090b197c1100146221da

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I've developed a Personal Advisory Board in line with this decision-making style. For major decisions, I rely on a specific group of individuals, including professional mentors for career-related choices, close friends for matters concerning home and childcare, and contacts in my fraternity and formal organizations for decisions tied to my involvement in those associations. Recognizing that I possess only some of the answers, I leverage the advice of my Personal Advisory Board to make informed and sound decisions.?

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Creating your own Advisory Board involves a few steps. Firstly, identify the significant roles in your life and list at least three people you believe you can turn to for advice for each role. Could you set up a routine communication system with these individuals, making sure it's reciprocal? Regularly express gratitude to strengthen these relationships, acknowledging the value of their advice. Finally, please refresh your list, reflecting the space and circumstances of those you lean on.?I use the Reach App to connect a group of people simultaneously. I have included the link below:

https://www.reachtheapp.com/

While no decision is perfect or absolute, having a diverse group in your corner provides a framework inclusive of various identities, thoughts, and perspectives. It enriches your decision-making process and helps you build empathy and emotional intelligence because gathering perspectives from others allows you to see the world from multiple lenses. If you develop a Personal Advisory Board, I would like you to ensure your group is diverse while aligning with your core values. My core values are compassion, kindness, strong work ethic, integrity, and honesty, to name a few. If you'd like to discuss this idea more, don't hesitate to contact me offline. ?