Using your support networks: creating your Personal Board of Directors

Reflective pause:

What criteria do I use to select individuals for my personal Board of Directors, and how can their perspectives and guidance contribute to my personal and professional growth?

A successful organisation will have an effective Board of Directors.  Typically composed of people from diverse backgrounds, the Board brings together a range of skills, talents and perspectives. Beyond providing committed and ongoing support for the organisation, the Board also serves as a critical sounding board, offering valuable critiques and diverse viewpoints on challenges and opportunities facing the organisation. 

Creating your own Personal Board of Directors (PBOD) can help – this is a group of individuals (from in and outside the workplace) who can offer diverse perspectives, support and guidance to help you navigate life’s challenges. Your PBOD act as a sounding board and help you when you face a dilemma, when you need affirmation, or to challenge you.

Your PBOD will typically need to include people with one or more of the following qualities:

• Someone who is a major support for you personally and professionally

• Someone who can help you be creative

• Someone who is good at coming up with practical solutions

• Someone skilled in networking and relationship-building

• Someone who has years of experience and accumulated wisdom

• Someone who you can accept criticism from

• Someone who knows you better than you know yourself

• Someone with relevant skills and expertise 

• Someone who is a role model for you

• Someone who can offer advice on promoting self-care, wellbeing and work-life balance

• Someone who recognises your strengths and skills and the need to celebrate achievement 

Remember this is an honorary, unpaid role, so you may need to find ways of reciprocating or showing thanks to the members of your PBOD.