Why Every Coach Should have a Personal Board of Directors

Similar to a company’s Board of Directors, a Personal Board of Directors is a small group of trusted advisers who provide advice, guidance, support and accountability and are invested in your success.

Members of your Personal Board play different roles, depending on their experience and background, and can be influenced by your relationship with them. Possible roles include:

• The Cheerleader is the person who encourages you in those times when you are full of self doubt and questioning
• The Coach offers different perspectives, points out blind spots and asks those tough questions we sometimes avoid
• The Wise Counsel has been there and done what you are trying to do. Their experience allows them to offer guidance, mentorship and practical advice
• The Subject Matter Expert is the information source in areas you may not be familiar with that are valuable to your coaching practice including business administration, law, human resources, technology and social media
• The Connector is the person who connects you to tools, resources and people who can add value to your network and help you achieve your goals
• The Confidante creates a safe space for you to bring your vulnerable self. They listen, avoid judgement and, when you are ready, help you refocus on your goals
• The External Point of Accountability can hold you accountable to those goals, increasing the probability that you will achieve them. This role can be shared among your Board members

Some Board members (e.g., mentor coach) may play several of these roles at the same time or shift roles depending on your needs.

Here are seven intentional steps you can take to put together a Personal Board:

1. Evaluate your biggest need. One of the questions coaches frequently ask clients is, “What do you want to achieve?” Spend some time thinking about your practice (whether you are internal to an organization or an external coach practitioner). What is currently working? Where are your growth edges? What do you want to achieve in the one to three years? What do you need to have in place to achieve these goals?
2. Take stock. Who do you already consult when making decisions? You likely already have people in your life that you go to for advice, to brainstorm ideas and who provide external accountability. Start by writing their names down. What roles do they currently play? More importantly, which of the important Board roles are vacant? There may be some areas where you want several people to fill a role, such as having experts in different subjects or several connectors, depending on your needs.
3. Find members. Now that you have identified which roles you have, it is time to find people to fill those roles you have deemed invaluable to achieving your success. Look to your own networks for people you admire, consider to be role models and who have provided counsel and support in the past. Don’t forget to ask those who you already consider as part of your Personal Board for advice on who you can connect with. Virtual members are also worth exploring. For example, author Tim Ferriss’ book Tools of Titans is a collection of wisdom from world leaders in various areas of expertise. Books, lectures and TedTalks can also play the role of coach or wide counsel.
4. Ask. Whether it is someone you already consult with or someone new you would like to bring into your support circle, the most important thing is to be honest about what you are looking for from them and why their participation is important to you.
5. Ensure Diversity. A Personal Board is a collection of wisdom, experiences and expertise that is different from yours—that is what makes it so valuable. Being exposed to diverse ideas and viewpoints fosters growth (which is the point, isn’t it?) and can lead to more innovative, creative and solid decisions.
6. Keep it relevant. You, your goals and your needs evolve over time. Since a Personal Board is about providing you with the support you need to achieve your goals, the makeup of your board of directors should evolve as your needs evolve. As well, always be on the lookout for new members.
7. Invest in your Board. Make yourself and your practice a priority by ensuring you reach out to those you have selected to be on your board on a regular basis.

Whether this is about business development, a career change, or personal growth and development, making the journey with a trusted inner circle of advisers makes the journey easier and more rewarding.

©Fiamma Coaching and Consulting/Rosa Edinga