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 in pursuing our dreams and passions. However, we can sometimes 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. A panel of directors is essential to ensure the company minizines costly errors while conducting business or executing an organization's mission.  A commission comprises a diverse group of people with various skills and levels of expertise. The committee, 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 familiar and revolutionary, but I encourage you to pause and reflect today on your PBOD. Do you have one? Do the members know how you want them to serve and support you? Do you know if the times for meeting with your board are consistent? Is there an opportunity to be more direct and specific in your asks of them?

As a store manager, I was introduced to the following structure for PBODs: First and foremost, your PBOD should all be raving fans of you. It’s essential that they believe in you and what you’re about. It’s a power circle!

Your PBOD should include the following:

1. The Lifter – Someone 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 in past moments of disappointment and lift your spirits.

2. The Pusher – Someone there to remind you there’s more to life than what you have done or accomplished. They may make you uncomfortable with being complacent and honor your accomplishments but remind you that resting on your laurels isn’t the goal either. A pusher is a voice that encourages you to think and do beyond what is comfortable. They are probably not your “favorite” person on any given day because you may not always want to hear what they 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 convex mirror for your life and possess the skills to help you recognize all you are capable of.

4. The Sponsor – This person is well-connected in the industry you want to thrive. They are excited about your growth and development and 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 explicit conversations about skill gaps or areas of opportunity holding you back from where you want to be professional. They also serve as a defender when your name is brought up in rooms or conversations you are not there for. 

I encourage you to set up 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; a fan club of people is waiting to keep you.

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