Building Your Own Board of Directors
by Susan Smyth
The American Way is to be independent, resourceful, self-sufficient and able to overcome all obstacles. We like to get things done and ask for as little as possible along the way. Yet, quietly and often behind closed doors, the American business model can look quite different. Boards of Director and Advisory Councils are everywhere. All publicly held companies and non-profits are required to have boards, based on the belief that guidance and accountability help drive a better outcome. Small entrepreneurial companies often follow suit, anxious to cash in on a proven approach of using trusted advisors to maximize access to resources, wisdom, and consultation.
You, too, can gather your own Board of Directors. A personal board can accelerate your learning curve and help take some of the fear out of any change process. A personal board provides both wisdom and support for the attainment of a specific purpose. Often in making big decisions, not enough options are considered. A Board insures a variety of perspectives.
To form your own Board of Directors, start by contacting people who you feel you could learn from and who have wisdom you admire. Approach your prospective members and arrange to talk and/or meet.
Your Board of Directors should be a diverse group that can pose the big questions that need to be asked. You want to draw upon the wisdom of people who think differently than you do as well as those with whom your beliefs are already strongly aligned.
Discuss the challenges you are facing and ask for input. Ask your Board of Directors to suggest books, people, resources, clients, and others for advice. Be willing to listen, thank often, and use advice where appropriate. The Board of Directors is all about a “win-win” benefit, so you must be willing to give as much as you receive. Consider ways to add value to their lives and work.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to get started:
- In what areas of my life or business could I use guidance?
- Whose advice and counsel do I trust?
- On the other hand, whose ideas are so outrageous, they make my palms sweat?
- Who is wise in areas in which I am blind?
- Who will tell me what I might need to hear, not just what I might want to hear?
Take a look at my Board of Directors and see if it inspires you to develop this kind of resource for yourself.
| Susan Smyth -
PERSONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
| Bob |
business owner, well connected, upbeat, respects my work, knows marketing |
| Morgan |
consultant, author, background in finance, mergers, acquisitions, understands staying connected |
| Stew |
in my field, corporate knowledge, willing to say difficult things |
| Dora |
in my field, willing to share resources, generous with advice, deep, wise, knowledgeable, shadow consults |
| Jean |
accountant, advises on all aspects of personal and professional accounting needs |
| Margaret |
financial advisor, guides investment decisions and retirement planning |
| Brad |
legal eagle, straight talker |
| Julie |
communications expert, reality checker, jargon challenger |
| Ross |
spiritual advisor, understands human interactions |
| Barbara |
business owner, understands change management, coach and guide, personal and professional |
| Don |
business leader, internal, understands organizational issues |
| Darren |
gives Gen X perspective, great business connections |
| Annette |
listens, cuts through the morass, courageous in saying hard things |
| Roger |
banker, housing advisor, brother |
What/who else I need on my Board of Directors
- Sales expertise
- Personal fitness trainer
- Personal organizer/moving organizer
- Wardrobe coach
- Business development advisor
- Glue
- Risk-taker
- Follow-up/accountability partner
Susan Smyth, Director of Consulting Services, Metropolitan Education and Training Services, www.useMETS.org, susan.smyth@usemets.org
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Copyright 2006 Susan Smyth. All rights reserved. While you may copy this publication, its content may not be modified. You may, and are encouraged to, share the publication with others who may benefit from receiving it.
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