Here’s a question that comes up almost every time I kick off a new leadership coaching group and ask why they are here: “I mentor a lot of people. But who mentors me?”
I’ve heard it from my individual coaching clients, the high-achievers who have spent decades lifting others and yet don’t intentionally make sure they have others in their corner, doing the same for them. I know the feeling. And I know the difference it makes when the answer shifts from “no one, really” to “actually, I have a whole team.”
That’s exactly what I write about in my latest article for Chief, the largest network of senior women executives. I’m thrilled to share it with you throughout the month of June. (Perhaps this Summer is a good time to reflect on the ideas I present here?)🤔. I’ve adapted the message a bit because it applies to all leaders — not just the female audience at Chief. Today, we start with the three compelling reasons every leader should build a Personal Board of Advisors (BOA).
➡ Let’s discuss how to develop your Personal Board of Advisors — Book a complimentary 20-minute Discovery Call
[adapted from my article for Chief]
You mentor others. You model ambition and leadership success. You lift others up — often without even realizing it. And, if you’re fortunate, other leaders have done the same for you. But there’s a meaningful difference between support that finds you organically and support you build intentionally. One depends on circumstance. The other depends on you.
Chief Members cultivate this support intentionally. In essence, they seek out feedback, advice, connection and leadership development by joining a personal board of advisors (BOA). By meeting frequently with a curated group, led by a Chief Guide (like me), members support each other in building leadership acumen, advancing their careers, and lifting each other up.
In one of my earliest experience with this at Chief, a member who began with the Core Group perfectly content in her current role, listened to her peers share their ambitions at each monthly meeting, and something shifted for her. Near the end of year one, she announced she’d accepted a CMO role at a well-known, publicly traded software company. “I was so inspired by everyone that I started recognizing I wanted more.” That’s the power of a personal BOA.
Having a personal BOA is one of the most effective strategies leaders can employ to accelerate and navigate their careers — especially in times of rapid change. In almost every new group kickoff at Chief, when I ask members why they joined, they share the same sentiment: “I mentor a lot of people, but who mentors me?”. But knowing the power of the BOA and taking the time to build and use it, are very different things.
3 Key Benefits of a Personal BOA
I know many leaders, men and women, who have used a mentor intentionally to guide their development and navigate their careers. Here are three important reasons to consider building a personal BOA to do the same:
1. 🤝 It makes leadership less lonely. A safe space with trusted peers — people who can offer perspective when you’re navigating tough decisions or facing a challenge alone — isn’t a nice-to-have anymore. It’s a must-have. And it actively develops your leadership even when you don’t have time for a formal coaching engagement.
2. 🔑 It delivers access, accountability, and awareness. A diverse network of colleagues provides you access to fresh perspectives and expands your decision-making. Trusted advisors surface your oversights, hold you accountable to your goals and commitments, and — in the words of organizational psychologist Adam Grant — serve as your “challenge network:” people who give you radical transparency to help you grow.
3. 🚀 It accelerates your network and opens doors. A personal BOA builds a network with intention. I’ve seen group members connect each other to fractional and permanent roles, speaking opportunities, and openings on corporate and nonprofit boards.
A personal BOA isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about surrounding yourself with the right people — those who ask the right questions, stretch your thinking, and champion your growth, even when you’re too close to the work to see it yourself.
➡ Interested in joining a group, reply to this email or Book a complimentary 20-minute Discovery Call.
Watch your email for my next newsletter, I’ll share 5 practical tips for finding and activating your own personal BOA.
Here’s to bringing your best self forward,
Loretta