Good day friends and welcome back to another episode where we discuss how authenticity, transparency, passion and purpose leads to more visionary organizations. I’m your host, Erin Patchell, founder of Positivist Group and your host of Weirdos in the Workplace. Today we’re talking about the idea of having a Personal Board of Directors. If you’ve been listening to the podcast, you might know that I’m a big believer in not doing things on your own, accepting the advice and ideas of others, and understanding the radical truth while envisioning with clarity where we could go from here. Having a personal board of directors is critical for anyone who has really big goals.
Today we’re answering the question, "who do you need by your side as you scale the corporate ladder or grow your own business?” Stay tuned.
Anyone who's ever started a business and I think most people who are in leadership roles knows it's never just business—it's personal. Hell, it’s deeply, existentially personal. We’re talking Kierkegaard levels of introspection here. I mean, your business is like your baby; it's an extension of yourself.
Now, I'm not sure I've ever met an entrepreneur who's perfectly mastered the art of balancing head decisions with heart decisions. You're either overly analytical, dissecting every choice like it’s a page from Dostoevsky, or we’re so passionate about our vision and taking care of our people that our hearts eclipse our heads, and we make decisions that can sometimes end up compromising that very vision.
The reality is that as a business owner or business leader, you are being pulled in a multitude of different directions and this is more true today than ever in a world fully entrenched in a cultural and technological revolution simultaneously. The world, businesses and life have never been more complex.
You know what I mean? That's why having a board of advisors—your own 'Personal Board of Directors'—is absolutely vital.
Let's start by breaking it down. What the heck is a Personal Board of Directors? This is your inner circle, the sage advisors, mentors, and influencers who guide you through the maze of your professional life. This is your ultimate "dream team" for self-development and decision-making, minus the obligations of fiduciary responsibilities.
Remember the wise words of Plato: "Know thyself." But he also should've added, "Know others who know things you don't." Your Personal Board isn't just an echo chamber of you; it's a reflection of different facets of what you need to grow.
Imagine being lost in a forest. Your strategy is like the compass and map that guide you in the direction your business is already headed, your team is the engine that drives you to your goals, but your Personal Board is like having a group of local guides, each with different survival skills, telling you how to find that fruit, how to hack that path, and maybe how to avoid quicksand while you're at it.
Obviously one of the questions that arises is “how do I know who I need on my team?” Well, how well do you know yourself, your triggers, your instincts, your motivations… your fears? Find people who aren’t just perfectly aligned with your vision and philosophy. Find people who share similar high level values, but who think and act a little bit differently from you. Find some diversity, in personal history, culture, neurotype and more. In summary, your Personal Board of Directors is your personal "think tank" that helps you navigate the uncharted waters of your career and personal development.
You might be asking, "How do I find these people?"
In the wise words of Socrates, "I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think." Your mentors are here to make you think. They’ve walked the path you're on, stumbled over the rocks you haven’t seen yet, and—most importantly—have gotten back up. They give you that grand overview, the 'stratospheric perspective' if you will, that helps filter out the noise. It’s so easy to get swept up in the details, having people to grab us by the scruff of our necks and drag us out of the tornado and remind us why we’re doing this in the first place, is absolutely essential.
Your personal board of directors will come in all shapes, colours, sizes and more. And so what you’re really looking for is a person who is willing to challenge you, and you’re willing to accept it. You’re accepting the challenge. They push you forward. They make you think differently. They help make you think more deeply.
And the best, best, best way to find your own personal board of directors is to become part of someone else’s personal board of directors as well.
Like Oprah Winfrey said, “Surround yourself with people who are going to lift you higher.”
I hope this episode inspires you to take more time to talk and build community with individuals who you may find, inspire and teach you to be more than who you are right now. The only way to find them is to search, cultivate transparency and authenticity, lower your guard, and become curious about the people you meet. When you meet people who challenge you, who spark a fire inside of you and drive you to want to be more and do more, you know you may have a new member of your “personal board.”
That’s all for today, stay weird, stay wonderful and don’t stay out of trouble.
