Good Afternoon
,
“A mentor is someone who
allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” – Oprah Winfrey
As leaders we pride ourselves on
taking charge; we are typically diligent to take it upon ourselves to pursue our dreams, and passions. However, at times we can be oblivious to our blind spots, and experience the disadvantages of this short-sightedness.
Companies and organizations of all
employee sizes typically establish a board of directors. The importance of a board of directors is to ensure the company minizines costly errors while conducting business or executing the mission of an organization. A board is composed of a diverse group of people with various skills and levels of expertise. The board, in short, is a team of highly knowledgeable people used to help hold an organization accountable to the vision or mission of the
company.
Having a skilled group of people
engaged with the success of a business or organization is powerful. What if we, as individuals, established a similar structure for ourselves? What if you had a personal board of directors (PBOD) of highly skilled, growth-motivated individuals that were deeply invested in YOUR outcomes?
This concept is not new or
revolutionary, but I would like to encourage you to pause and reflect today on your own PBOD. Do you have one? Do the members know the way in which you want them to serve and support you? Are the times for meeting with your board consistent? Is there an opportunity to be more direct and specific in your asks of them?
I was introduced to the following
structure for a PBODs in my role as a store manager: First and foremost your PBOD should all be raving fans of you. It’s important that they really believe in you, and what you’re about. It’s a power circle!
Your PBOD should
include:
1. The Lifter – Someone that’s there to remind you of your power. Perhaps they have witnessed your previous successes, and when you need a voice of encouragement, they know how to
help support you past moments of disappointment, and lift your spirits up.
2. The Pusher – Someone that is there to remind you there’s more to life than just what you have done or accomplished. They may make you uncomfortable with being complacent. They
honor your accomplishments, but also remind you that resting on your laurels isn’t the goal either. A pusher is the voice that encourages you to think and do beyond what is comfortable. On any given day they are probably not your “favorite” person because you may not necessarily always want to hear what they have to say, but you know it’s a necessary perspective to consider.
3. The Mentor – “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” - Oprah Winfrey. This person is someone you are very connected to. They are experienced,
someone you admire, and they hold high value in your life. More importantly, they support you from a non-judgmental and vulnerable space. They are a mirror for your life, and they possess the skills to help you recognize all that you are capable of.
4. The Sponsor – This person is well connected in the industry you want to thrive in. They are excited about your growth and development, and they can help get you in front of the
opportunities to help grow your career. They can also be the person you want to work for or with. Maximize time with this board member by having clear conversations about skill gaps, or areas of opportunity that are holding back from where you want to be professionally.
I encourage you to establish your
personal board of directors, create a consistent schedule to meet with them, and be persistent. Use your team to help guide and support your goals; there’s a fan club of people waiting to support you.
Turn up the volume on the voice
that matters, yours.
