What is a Personal Board of Directors and why do you need one?

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Do you know what people are saying about you when you’re not in the room??

Decisions about your career, growth, performance and much more happen behind closed doors. What if you could influence those decisions in your favor??

That’s where your board of directors comes in.?

What is a Personal Board of Directors (PBD)?

Imagine yourself as a business — wouldn’t you have a team of advisors to guide you? Your personal growth should be no different.?

Your PBD can help catalyze your career. They are the people you can turn to for advice when you’re conflicted, they can help identify opportunities for you and even help you get them, and they’re the ones who can help you navigate through challenges. And, of course, they’re the people who will advocate for you when you’re not in the room.?

So, how do you go about finding your PBD? Start within your own network and go from there. Here are the 5 main types of directors you need:?

1. ?????? ??????????????????: This person is someone who’s great with people and has many connections. They can open doors for you and help you grow your own network.
2. ?????? ?????????????????????? ????????????????????: This person has a finger on the pulse of the organization you’re in as well as the larger business environment. They can help you get a more in-depth understanding of how to navigate your role and growth.
3. ?????? ????????????????????: This person makes things happen. They are the one you go to if you need people to get on board with your idea, and they’re great at fostering collaborations.
4. ?????? ????????????: This person is someone who supports your professional growth and development, and someone you go to for advice, feedback, guidance, or as a sounding board for decisions and challenges.
5. ?????? ??????????????: This is an influential person who can accelerate your career who can put your name forward for opportunities. Unlike a mentor, the sponsor chooses you, so take action to make them advocate for you. Be proactive and get noticed by them.

Unlike mentorship, the catch with sponsors is that you don’t choose a sponsor — a sponsor chooses you. But there are actions you can take to make it more likely that an influential sponsor will want to advocate for you. It starts with demonstrating outstanding job performance, and making your achievements known to leaders.

Now that you know what kinds of people to have in your PBD, here are some more things to keep in mind:

1. Strive for diversity in your board. Look for people from different educational backgrounds, fields or sectors. This gives you a varied perspective and can expose you to multiple skill sets.
2. Know that your board will keep changing and expanding as you grow and evolve in your career.
3. You can and should choose people who have roles or work in organizations that you aspire to.
4. Remember to stay in touch with your board members. Keep them updated with your goals, and share your milestones and achievements.
5. Make it a win-win for both you and your directors. Build relationships with your PBD and find ways to add value to their life so that they continue to engage with you.

And there you have it, my take on having your own personal board of directors.?

So take a piece of paper and create your PBD today. Remember, the members in your PBD will be your voice in that room where all your career-changing decisions are made.

Your PBD will be your voice in that room where all your career-changing decisions are made.

I am Sajna Samad, and this is an excerpt from my podcast, Catalyze Your Career. I am a Jay Shetty Certified Life Coach and John Maxwell Certified Leadership Coach focused on Career and Leadership topics. As a ???????????? ??????????, I am committed to helping professionals stand out from the crowd by creating your ???????????? ?????????????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????. As a ???????????????????? ??????????, I enable ???????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? to make successful transitions into leadership roles. Together, we'll overcome impostor syndrome, boost self-confidence, and establish your personal brand.

If you want to know how you can catalyze your career, let's hop on a call and decide how to work together. DM me for more details. For more insights, subscribe to my newsletter.

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