The Power of a Personal Board of Directors

Most people are familiar with the concept of a board of directors – a collective of individuals who bring diverse skills, experiences, and leadership to a company or organization. They provide guidance, oversight, and represent the interests of shareholders. But have you heard of a personal board of directors?

A personal board of directors is a group of people who advise and guide you through life and career. Unlike a corporate board, a personal board likely does not even know it exists, and directors need not meet or know each other. Rather, these are trusted individuals you regularly look to for support as you navigate challenges, experiences, and varying life stages. Your board may include formal mentors, trusted friends and colleagues, business leaders, teachers, spiritual advisors, and even voices you follow in the public domain.  Your personal board does not need to be formal, and members are not expected to work as a collective. This board will be most effective if it is composed of individuals you trust and respect whose core values align with yours, and who bring a diversity of voices and experiences to help advise, teach, grow, and guide you through everything life throws your way. Your board will lend their time and talents to your development, so make sure to give back to your board as well so these critical relationships don’t become transactional or one-way in nature.

I have always leaned on mentors for advice, but I only recently came to understand the concept of a personal board of directors, and it has been a game-changer for me. When I was weighing the prospect of a geographic move for a career opportunity, I turned to members of my board for advice on navigating the interview process, negotiating a job offer, working with a relocation company, preparing and acclimating my children to their new school, building my community in a new location, and even finding resources for my husband as he transitioned from office life to a work-from-home environment.

My board members have offered counsel, shared experiences, provided lessons learned, offered a shoulder to lean on and an ear for a good vent session. They gave me candid and sometimes difficult (but always constructive) feedback when I needed it most. They have cheered me through successes and picked me up when I have fallen. And we all fall occasionally – failure is part of the process and the way we grow as humans. 

My board members do not always agree with each other or even with me, and that is a good thing! Constructive dissent, diversity of thought, and differing perspectives help us think through big decisions and challenging situations. They also help us turn a mirror to ourselves and identify biases we unconsciously carry with us. Your board should not bring you every answer, but rather, should help you figure out the answers for yourself. This way, you will make the best decisions for your situation and in alignment with your goals and values.

So how can you identify and cultivate your board if you do not yet have one?

Start by considering who moves in your life in a way that brings you value, and who you trust and turn to for advice and guidance. Chances are, those people already exist in your life to some degree. Now consider whether you have any gaps in your personal board. Ask yourself: 

• Are your directors diverse in background, in career and life stage, and in perspective? 
• Do your directors inspire you to become your best, most authentic self? 
• Do your directors offer candid and constructive feedback and have a vested interest in your growth and well-being?
• Do you look at your directors and admire some element of who they are – career success, leadership style, attitude, parenting approach, etc.?

Reflect on these questions as you establish your board, and remember that a personal board of directors is dynamic – it should and will change as people move in and out of your life, and as you change and grow yourself. The career and life goals you set for yourself today will likely be different ten years from now, as will the life stages and situations in which you find yourself. Your board should change with you, and if you select and nurture your board members well and give back to them in return, they will support your growth and help you achieve your goals – putting you in a position to do the same for others.