A number of folks have been writing recently on the concept of an imaginary board of directors (see Jodee, Kirsten, and Troy for their boards, and for the original sources of this idea). It’s a really cool idea: who, among all people throughout time, would you like advising you?
I loved reading others lists of imaginary board members, and then it struck me: what if it wasn’t imaginary? Who really is on your board of directors, or should be? If you’re serious about making a difference, who is advising you on key issues that you are working on?
Actually, this isn’t even my original thought. My own coach, Dee Bailey, has been encouraging me to really do this: what people do I want to ask to act as advisors to me, with specific roles and responsibilities? She’s been calling it a success team, but really it’s the same thing: selecting people with varied skills and abilities specifically to advise me and help me accomplish my dreams of making a difference.
So, this week – a challenge for you, and for me (since I have committed to doing this): who will you invite to be on your real board of directors? What skills, resources, ideas and people do you need to support you, challenge you and hold you accountable to your plans? What role(s) will you specifically ask them to take on as your board member?
I’d love to hear about your board, and I’ll keep you posted on mine!
Before specializing as a professional coach in 2004, I spent more than a decade in leadership, management and program development for state and local government and non-profit organizations. Now I get to help leaders and teams have more clarity and ability to stand up for what's important in their work and in their organizations. Working with me, leaders and teams find more meaning and purpose, feel happier and more confident, navigate change and conflict, and work together better.
Hanna: I do have my personal board, ever since I heard Jim Collins talk about this concept in a videotaped interview he did before Good to Great came out. (It’s a fantastic video if you can get your hands on it – put out by Fast Company magazine.)
Anyway – my board includes an independent leadership consultant I met a couple of years ago here in my own town who challenges me to think beyond what I know. It also includes a friend of mine who just happens to be an attorney, which helps when I’ve got legal questions. He also has a much more conservative worldview than I do, so that gives me another aspect to my challenges. A former ethics teacher of mine in my graduate program – a Catholic nun – is also on my board as are two people who give me an alternative spiritual view of life. I have two other people on my board, each of whom is quite a bit younger than I am (one 14 years younger and one 8 years younger). They give me fresh ideas and are so much fun to learn from.
We never get together as a board – although that sounds really fun sometime! They are wonderful people in my life and have encouraged me to find – and live – my calling. I’m truly blessed.
Jodee,
Thanks for sharing this! I love how you have brought some diverse viewpoints to support you – especially seeking out younger people! Great ideas!
I have had a couple of different groups of advisors who have previewed my marketing materials, helped me hone my key messages, etc., for my business, but I want to step it up a notch. I’m thinking of asking a few people to step into a formal advising role for me, specifically seeking out some broader points of view to challenge me and hold me accountable to a bigger game. I’m debating about whether to ask for a specific commitment of time – like a board meeting – or whether that’s just too serious!
Hey, I love this posting because I’ve been thinking about this idea for awhile and it’s interesting to see what others have done. (BTW–I agree with Jodee that the Fast Company video of Jim Collins is really good–a few years ago you could buy it on the Fast Company website but not sure now.)
And I like Hanna’s idea about stepping it up a notch. I also have people in my life who advise me on all sorts of things but there’s something enticing about getting a group of minds in the same room (virtually, that is) and seeing what ideas emerge. I tried this recently with a conference call of my best collaborators and one of the side benefits was that people in my life who weren’t previously connected now are. Sort of like there’s a benefit to being on my board–you get to meet other great thinkers.
I think what stops me from putting this idea into full blown implementation is the idea that I would be asking more from people who I know are already busy. So then it comes back to the question, “What’s the game that I’m playing that’s so big that it’s not about me, it’s about something bigger?” The something bigger is what others can get enrolled in.
So thanks Hanna and Jodee for getting me thinking again….