Surprise! This is not an invitation to bring your own booze to work. (Although there might be days when that’s tempting 😜)
Instead, BYOB is an important call to Build Your Own Board – a diverse group of trusted, smart and supportive people who can serve as your sounding board and be a source of inspiration, insight and advice 💟.
My BYOB awakening
I realized the value of BYOB when I joined YPO, a global leadership organization. In YPO, each member joins a forum, a group of 8-12 peers from different industries with differing perspectives. Forums gather monthly to openly (and confidentially) discuss personal and professional challenges and opportunities. My forum quickly became my go-to sounding board for fresh, unbiased perspectives. Their reliable, sage insight coupled with an occasional (welcome) kick-in-the-pants was often exactly what I needed to move forward confidently.
This experience helped me realize that EVERYONE can benefit from having a personal Board.
Caveat, this doesn’t have to be a group that formally gathers or knows one another. It can be a group that you view as your professional and personal champions.
Whether you are just starting your career or have been at it a while, making big or tough decisions alone can be lonely and overwhelming. Maybe you are negotiating a new job offer, considering a cross-country move, preparing for a big presentation or avoiding an uncomfortable conversation with a challenging colleague. If so, it helps to have an inner circle, a Board, who has your back ✨.
Who should be part of your Board? People who are smart, trusted, discerning and open. They listen, brainstorm, and help you weigh the pros and cons of a decision or idea. They fundamentally care about you and your success. They help you grow. 💛
BYOB – get equipt with this vital 6-pack of your personal champions:
1. Work Friend 👯
Gallup has long reported that having a best friend at work helps you feel more satisfied, be more innovative, experience less stress, get more done in less time, and have more fun. Yet, only 2 out of 10 people claim to have a best friend at work. Perhaps “best friend” is an unreasonably high bar. I suggest having a work friend you can trust to give you honest feedback, be a sounding board, and inspire you with new perspectives.
2. Mentor 💖
This person is a well-respected, accomplished professional in your field (inside or outside of your organization) who can offer insight and guidance as you navigate your career path. A mentor may be your manager, former professor, relative, family friend or someone you meet through networking. Mentors can provide guidance based on their past experiences, lessons learned, and knowledge of compensation. Additionally, they often help motivate you, connect you to other professionals in your field, and avoid common mistakes.
3. Sponsor 🤝
This is a lesser-known but critical person to have in your corner. They’re usually a respected leader inside your company with a lot of influence. And they use their influence to advocate for you behind closed doors with HR leaders and executives when it’s time to discuss new assignments, promotions and pay increases. A sponsor typically is a senior leader with an eye out for aspiring leaders and high performers who are reliable, driven and motivated to succeed. How to find a sponsor? Be excellent in your role, indispensable to your team, and seek out stretch assignments where a potential sponsor will have visibility to your work.
4. Coach 🤼
A career coach can help you better understand yourself, see a broader range of current and future possibilities, navigate difficult situations, sharpen your resume, set inspiring goals and craft a plan of action. In short, a coach helps you become the best version of yourself. I suggest using a coach certified by the ICF (or equivalent) with real-world business experience so their coaching considers the practical realities of the corporate world. A coach typically charges an hourly fee or offers a bundle of sessions over a period of time, e.g., 3-12 months.
5. Industry Peer 👩💼
You may find this person inside your company doing the same (or similar job) that you’re doing. An industry peer could also be someone in a similar role in another company. (It’s best to cultivate several of these relationships). Use LinkedIn and ask for a phone call to get acquainted and share common insights about your role and insight about future opportunities. Inside or outside of the company, industry peer relationships can be valuable benchmarks to know if you’re being equitably compensated.
6. Cheerleader 🤸
Whether it’s your roommate, best friend, sibling, spouse or significant other, you need a close personal relationship in your corner. This person isn’t necessarily your go-to for career advice if they lack relevant experience, but their emotional support and willingness to listen and cheer for your success is key. On the other hand, pay attention if the most important person in your life is holding you back from pursuing your dreams.
Do you have people like this in your life? If yes, you’re ahead of the game. If no, it’s never too late (or too early) to start assembling your 6-pack.
You are equipt to BYOB,
Kelly Mooney
