Do Consultants Need a Board?

By Elaine Biech and Halelly Azulay, creators of the Building Your Successful Consulting Business online course.

Have you ever needed an answer but didn’t know where to turn? Have you found yourself curious about trends in your industry and wondered how they’d fit with your consulting work? Are you thinking about changing your focus and need someone to validate your plan? As a consultant you need a team of such people – and it’s called a board of directors.

Why Might You Need a Board of Directors?

Jim Kouzes believes that, “You need to become well connected so that you can become the best that you can be. You need people who can help you learn and grow, to help you through adversity, to encourage you, and to talk over things when you are making decisions. You need people who can help you grow your business beyond simply acquiring clients. You need a personal board of directors.”

None of us are experts in everything. You’re a consultant and a business owner. Many other business owners have experience with the same issues that you have. A board of directors can help you gather data, explore options, and make decisions quickly.

Success is a wonderful thing, but you can’t do it alone – and you don’t have to. You’ll want to plan how you’ll reach your goals and who can help you get there. If it’s not one of the first things on your to-do list, you may want to move it up a couple notches. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and to ask for help when you need it. It’s the smart thing to do.

Who Should be on Your Board?

We believe that consultants need a team to support their business comprised of your accountant, banker, attorney, and insurance broker. Your board should expand beyond your team. You might need the expertise of other consultants; however, don’t neglect people from other professions and industries too. For example, we have learned some of our best lessons for how to manage our consulting practices from a retail store owner, a manufacturing plant manager, and a plumber – but those are stories for another time!

Who could be on your board? You might consider:

• A marketing expert, especially someone who understands social media.
• A former mentor.
• Other business owners who sell to a similar clientele.
• People who are knowledgeable about anything that you are not.
• Friends and colleagues who will be honest and candid with you and who will challenge you.

How many members should make up your board? Generally, three to five carefully selected individuals will provide the support you need. As you define your ideal board, remember that it is not all about the positions these people hold. Instead consider inviting people who think differently from you. For instance, if you are more a big-picture thinker, be sure you have at least one person who is more detail oriented. Call the people who you think can be most helpful. You may be surprised at how readily they’ll say, “yes.”

How Can You Acknowledge and Inspire Your Board?

We’ve served as board members for several organizations. Perhaps you have too. Generally, some compensation or benefits accompanied the role to reimburse you for the time you spend. This can be anywhere from a reduced cost of membership to a stipend and travel for attending meetings. But let’s be practical. You probably don’t have an extra $15,000 to bring your board together at a nice resort. So how can you motivate them to remain a part of your board? 

• Reciprocate. Extend your offer to assist them. You can act as a sounding board for them and their concerns. Repeat your message in emails, phone calls, or surprises you mail to them. You want them to know that you are as available to them as they are to you.
• Promote. Whenever you get a chance, promote your board members and their services to others. You can introduce your board members virtually to other influencers who you know. Recently Elaine had the opportunity to introduce one of her former board members to an admiral, knowing that the introduction will be beneficial to both.
• Recognize. Thank them sincerely and often. Few of us hear the words “thank you” too often! Provide recognition in articles you publish or share stories about them during your presentations.
• Stay in Touch. Connect with them regularly. Send articles or books. Recommend blogs. Share tips, data, or quotes that they may find useful. Let them know you appreciate them.

You don’t need to figure everything out by yourself. Consulting can be a lonely profession, but it doesn’t need to be. Find several individuals that you resonate with and engage them as your board of directors. Jim Kouzes says, “You can’t make extraordinary things happen without support from others.” You need a board of directors.

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About the Authors

Elaine Biech and Halelly Azulay are successful consultants with a combined 50 years of experience. Both are leaders in the talent development field, volunteers for ATD, and mentors and coaches for new consultants. They are the creators of the online course: Building Your Successful Consulting Business. Elaine, ATD’s 2020 Distinguished Contribution recipient, has published 85 books, including two classics for consultants: The New Business of Consulting and The New Consultant’s Quick Start Guide. Halelly produces and hosts The TalentGrow Show podcast where she interviews legends such as Daniel Pink, Beverly Kaye, Jim Kouzes, Dorie Clark, and others.

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Here’s what world-renowned consultants say about us:

“In Elaine and Halelly you've got two of the smartest women in the business. Draw on their experience and years of success practicing what they preach to build your own successful consulting or training business.” ~ Michael Bungay Stanier, Author of the bestsellers The Coaching Habit and The Advice Trap

“If you are thinking about a change in your career and it means moving out on your own, trust these two experienced consultants to make it a bit easier. Building on their own decades of experience, they will guide you away from the traps that they experienced and point you in the right direction. You don’t have to go at it alone!” Dr. Beverly Kaye, Founder, Career Systems Int’l and Bev Kaye & Co., Co-author, Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go, Up is Not the Only Way, Recipient, Lifetime Contribution Award, ATD, & Thought Leadership Award, ISA

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