Your personal board of directors is the small group of people you turn to for encouragement and suggestions on how to advance your career. The “board” should ideally be made up of people who are vested in your success on a personal and professional level.
See Also: The Role of a Mentor in Career Development
The board should be made up of five to eight carefully chosen people who you can trust to strategize with and serve as your personal sounding board for your career advancement.
You must draw upon the biggest pool of knowledge and experience if you are serious about developing your career. Having a personal board of advisors allows you to receive advice from people who are more experienced than you and have a more unbiased perspective on your profession.
The following categories of individuals should be on your board:
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Mentors: These are older individuals who can impart wisdom to you.
Peers: They are reliable coworkers with whom you can be candid and who will support you. - Sponsors: They are influential people who can assist you become more visible at your current employer.
- Experts: Experts are persons from outside the company who can instruct you and demonstrate fresh approaches to problems
- Coach: This is someone who motivates you.
How to Put Together Your Board
Step 1: Create a plan
On a piece of paper, make a huge table with seats for a boardroom and place yourself at the head. Next, begin to list those who are assisting and directing you at the table, and perform an analysis. Do you have a diverse enough group?
Step 2: Be Particular. Be specific.
Establish your expectations for these people clearly. What specific guidance or assistance do you require from them? Don’t waste anyone’s time.
Step 3: Diversify
Aim for diversity in experience, industry, region, and background & education. Do they all have the same gender and geographic background? Who or what do you think is lacking that might aid you on your journey? The richer the picture is, the more perspectives you have.
Step 4: Take stock and evaluate
Consider who is currently on your board and who else might need to be there. Regularly assess your board’s membership to determine the kind of people you’ll need to thrive at the next stage of your career. It’s crucial that you approach your board as a living, breathing thing.
You are in charge.
Your professional life is a business, and you are the CEO. This business is being operated by you, and you are the product. To be able to create a winning business/career strategy, you need excellent guidance from as many viewpoints as you can find.
How Can a Board Benefit You?
- Expand Your Network and Open Doors: They can be your entrance to important business contacts, prospects, and other helpful people.
- Support: Your personal board of directors will be there to celebrate your achievements and career milestones as well as to support you in difficult times. In both good and terrible times, you can count on this network of allies.
- Build You: Simply modeling, studying, and seeing capable, intelligent, and adaptable people use concepts and practice skills in real-world situations will teach you a lot.
- Coach & Challenge: The greatest board members will actively confront you and ask the tough questions regarding your big strategy and ambitions.
- Defend You: Your board members may represent you in court. They can promote your qualifications to hiring managers looking for talent. They could be able to get you into crucial gatherings, make sure you receive the proper instruction and get you included in the list of high potentials.
