The Importance of Your Personal Board of Directors

Think about your set of tribal elders that you turn to for guidance at times of ethical dilemma, life transitions, and difficult choices, the people who embody the core values and standards you aspire to live up to. These are your informal board of directors and make sure you select them carefully.

Diversity leads to a diversity of thought and in most cases, better results. You need people who will provide you with authentic feedback. No matter whom you choose, it is absolutely necessary that you always keep one thing in mind: those serving on your metaphorical board are doing so because they care about you and your future.

Without further ado, here are five essential elements to any successful personal board of directors:

• The Connector. We’ve all encountered a connector. They’re the person who is well-established in the community, respected in their field, and most importantly, seems to know everyone worth knowing. Having a connector on your board is invaluable in terms of networking possibilities and business opportunities and when someone on your board doesn’t know how to steer you in the right direction in terms of information or expertise, chances are the connector knows someone who has all the answers.
• The Accountability Master. This position, originally described in Dowd-Higgins’ column, was too good not to include here. According to the career coach, “this person will hold you to the task and give you the gentle (or not so gentle) nudge to get you moving towards your goal. They will help you navigate your blind spots and provide honest constructive criticism when you need it most. This person can also help you step out of your comfort zone to take a risk and embrace change.”
• The Shoulder to Cry On. It’s true, sometimes you just want someone to listen to your woes, sympathize with your situation, and not make you feel bad for having the occasional pity party. If, however, you’ve been throwing yourself too many of these parties, The Shoulder shouldn’t coddle you. It’s a difficult role, but they’ve got to know where to draw the line when to be your shoulder to lean on and provide you with a pick-me-up, and when to tell you enough is enough and that crying and complaining never got anybody anywhere.
• The Dreamer. Many of us secretly dream big and never give voice to these longings because we’re afraid of how we’ll come across and we’re afraid of our dreams never coming to fruition. In other words, we let fear run the show. The power of the dreamer is that they think big and they believe in you in a big way, motivating you to accomplish goals that once seemed beyond your wildest imagination. Sure, sometimes failure is inevitable, but The Dreamer motivates you to try and as we’ve all heard: without risk, there is no reward.
• The Mentor. If you’re lucky enough to already have someone in your life who has your back and pushes you to be your best, then you’ve already got The Mentor slot filled on your personal board of directors. This is a person you trust and respect and whose guidance has already led you to success. There’s nothing better than being able to talk to someone in your industry who gets it and can offer the advice you need to get to the next level.

Finally, process all of the information and advice you’re given, but honour your original goals and trust yourself. In the end, only you know what’s best for you.?

"The personal board serves not only as a mechanism to preserve your core values but also as a way to stimulate self-renewal."

Look Out for your Number One and The GlassHammer.