An Enlightened Personal Board of Directors
In many organizations a board of directors (BOD) is a given - an assumed asset. While being a CEO or President of a large organization can be a lonely place, there's still the guidance and support of a board. What if instead you are the owner of a small company?
During my participation in the International Women's Forum Fellows Program our group participated in a one week challenging, break the glass ceiling, case study based program at Harvard Business School. We talked about what you would expect a group of A type personalities on the career fast track to talk about; how to be more successful in their careers. Predictably we discussed the need for mentors, out of the box thinking, governance, and finance. What I didn't predict was the discussion and role playing around a Personal Board of Directors (PBOD).
No matter where you are in your career this notion of “You, Inc.” exists even within the bounds of a larger corporate entity. However, a PBOD isn't elected or chosen for you. You decide who will be on your board and when and where you will meet. There will only be on item on the agenda - YOU! Feeling a little uncomfortable with how this sounds? Good, now let’s get to work!
To form your PBOD think of people in your life that you deeply trust and are not shy to be vulnerable with. They should be the people that have the confidence to say it like it is and have the love/respect for you that allows you to hear it. This is key. Like all boards, consider diversity for your PBOD - different backgrounds, experiences, and therefore perspectives. You are asking for members to give you their time (perhaps one hour per quarter), their undivided attention, and their hearts. You will sit with them all together and talk about your goals, plans, and measures of success. And they will hold you accountable. They will ask questions about your intent, your actions, and offer insights you just couldn't come up with on your own.
A few years ago, I realized the benefits of a couple of board members that I didn't even ask to be on my PBOD. They are enlightened souls and decided they would sit on my board anyway! When I decided to bend their ears these individuals chose to bend mine back! That takes courage and that takes love. In both cases, they listened to my whining patiently and then without hesitation told me like it was. They chose not to indulge my ego and instead went straight for my heart. They didn't tell me what I wanted to hear but rather what I needed to hear. I left these conversations uneasy and a bit agitated. After a few days of reflection and meditation I acted upon their suggestions and I felt weight falling off my shoulders. Content washed over me as if my soul took a deep breath. From there I grew and advanced my success; spiritual success.
Give yourself this gift of a PBOD. How wonderful to have access to multiple people who can bring focus, joy and light into your life and bring your closer to your goals be they career, family, health related and/ or closer to The Divine.