![](https://aspiremagz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Screen-Shot-2020-11-03-at-9.59.27-PM.png)
Maybe you need someone to view your issue with a perspective that seems to have escaped your view. That is where having a mentor and/or advisor comes really handy. Then again, given the complexity of our work and business environment, most times having one mentor/advisor is not good enough.
Executives and Managers, even CEOs today need an array of mentors, advisors and role models as support and to provide crucial information at decisive moments. Just as corporations configure networks to deal with the variety of problems faced by knowledge workers and also manage opportunities when it shows up; individuals too need to configure their networks based on their needs and the resource commitments involved in building such relationships.
Your personal board of advisors can include a range of individuals from friends, family, role models or simply people who come into your life for a specific purpose.
This article aims at providing you with insight and a practical tool on how to assemble your effective personal board of mentors. It has been developed by MIT Sloan School of Management, the business school of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
To use the tool, you need to do the following exercise:
Imagine that you are the CEO of your own company and like any other company, you also would also need to appoint a Board of Directors to run the show. The next step is to think of the people you can appoint on your ‘Board’ as your trusted personal advisors and mentors who can provide the expertise that you fall short of. Of course, these ‘Directors’ that you may want to appoint must be both available and interested to serve on your Board. Next list names that come to your mind one below the other.
Let’s understand the tool and the various roles within it:
The Inner and Outer Circles:
As the name suggests, the people within your inner circle will be closer to you having more frequent interactions and providing greater levels of support. Those within the outer circle (outside of the inner circle) are the people who are less close with fewer interactions, typically providing more focused support in any particular area where help is required. Less interactive advisors those who are principally important as role models are located in the white space within the outer circle. Overlapping support circles indicate multiple kinds of support provided by the given board member.
Think of the people you can appoint on your ‘Board’ as your trusted personal advisors and mentors who can provide the expertise that you fall short of.
Personal guide: (outer circle)
This is someone with whom you had a supportive relationship in the past, but now have limited or no interaction going on, and still drawing inspiration from them.
They have guided you on a specific lesson, subject, skill or topic. For example, someone who taught you the value of work ethics.
Personal advisor: (inner circle)
Someone you frequently interact with outside of work and also frequently rely on for psychological support. They serve as an emotional backing, a sounding board, someone who is an unconditional friend who accepts your capabilities and is non-judgemental.
This person has more connection with you, can you tell you more and give clarity on how you could navigate the circumstances in your life. This is a person you look up to and they have some connect to your day to day life.
Full service mentor: (inner circle)
They would fulfil the role of a true mentor on your personal board, providing both career and psychological support.
Helps you with clear direction to establish your goal post and then ways of getting there successfully.
A full service mentor has a great rapport and closeness with you with frequent interactions and extensive support.
Career Advisor: (inner circle)
They predominantly provide career support, know your capabilities well, and help you navigate through the organisation.
This is someone who is well versed with your industry and your role within it.
Theirs is a more formal and a shorter micro role, typically covering a 3-year strategic plan formulated especially for you.
They offer advise based on specific questions and feedback and offer value through their own personal experience and practice.
Career Guide: (outer circle)
This is a macro role that involves long term commitment from the board member, with intermittent interaction.
They know you well and help you maximise your potential to become yourself ten years down the line.
These are people who have played leadership roles, and assist you to build yourself up as a leader.
Role model: (outer circle)
These are people you follow and want to be like, wanting to live a life like theirs.
You may have no interaction with them ever and yet they are people you are proud of and influenced by.
They may have gone through trials and tribulations that you yourself might be going through.
They are your ideals and role model that inspire you.
Now that you have a greater understanding of the various roles, revisit your list of names and assign them to the relevant roles they would be best suited to. The final step would be to assemble them in the above tool to create your very own ‘Personal Board of Mentors’.
Next time you feel stuck, or proactively feel the need to streamline your next career move, or are looking for some guidance on the personal front, you have your own go-to board of members who will ensure that you don’t need to scratch your head in bewilderment ever again.
SABEEH CAN BE REACHED at [email protected]
64 Comments
Rodolfostarf
п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
http://cmqpharma.com/# mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
buying prescription drugs in mexico online
Davidodorb
mexican pharmaceuticals online: п»їbest mexican online pharmacies – mexico pharmacy
Charlesfaf
mexico drug stores pharmacies [url=https://foruspharma.com/#]medicine in mexico pharmacies[/url] mexican pharmacy
Michaelenaph
canadian pharmacy online: best rated canadian pharmacy – canadian online drugstore
EdwardLor
https://canadapharmast.online/# best canadian pharmacy
Davidodorb
mexico drug stores pharmacies: mexico pharmacies prescription drugs – mexican mail order pharmacies
Charlesfaf
safe online pharmacies in canada [url=https://canadapharmast.online/#]canadian pharmacy world[/url] best canadian online pharmacy
EdwardLor
http://foruspharma.com/# buying prescription drugs in mexico
Michaelenaph
my canadian pharmacy rx: canadian pharmacy meds – best canadian online pharmacy
Charlesfaf
canada drugs online [url=http://canadapharmast.com/#]adderall canadian pharmacy[/url] buying from canadian pharmacies
Davidodorb
mexican drugstore online: pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa – buying prescription drugs in mexico online
Michaelenaph
world pharmacy india: indian pharmacy – best online pharmacy india
Davidodorb
mexican pharmacy: mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa – mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
Michaelenaph
mexican rx online: purple pharmacy mexico price list – best online pharmacies in mexico
EdwardLor
https://indiapharmast.com/# cheapest online pharmacy india
Charlesfaf
Online medicine order [url=https://indiapharmast.com/#]indianpharmacy com[/url] indianpharmacy com
EdwardLor
http://indiapharmast.com/# buy medicines online in india
Davidodorb
india pharmacy mail order: top 10 pharmacies in india – buy medicines online in india
Michaelenaph
buy medicines online in india: indianpharmacy com – Online medicine home delivery
Charlesfaf
mexican rx online [url=https://foruspharma.com/#]medication from mexico pharmacy[/url] mexican pharmaceuticals online
Michaelenaph
legitimate canadian pharmacies: canada drugs online – best rated canadian pharmacy
Davidodorb
canadian pharmacy 24: canadianpharmacy com – legit canadian pharmacy
Charlesfaf
indian pharmacy [url=https://indiapharmast.com/#]best india pharmacy[/url] indian pharmacy
Davidodorb
canadian world pharmacy: my canadian pharmacy reviews – canadian king pharmacy
EdwardLor
http://foruspharma.com/# reputable mexican pharmacies online
Michaelenaph
canadian online pharmacy: canadian pharmacy 24h com safe – canadian online pharmacy
Davidodorb
world pharmacy india: mail order pharmacy india – indianpharmacy com
EdwardLor
https://indiapharmast.com/# top online pharmacy india
Michaelenaph
best india pharmacy: п»їlegitimate online pharmacies india – п»їlegitimate online pharmacies india
Davidodorb
canadianpharmacyworld: canadianpharmacyworld com – best canadian pharmacy
Thomastierm
http://clomiddelivery.pro/# how to get clomid without rx
Myronnus
http://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid buy
generic amoxicillin cost [url=https://amoxildelivery.pro/#]amoxicillin 30 capsules price[/url] amoxicillin buy online canada
Jamesuterb
azithromycin amoxicillin: amoxicillin over counter – ampicillin amoxicillin
Myronnus
http://amoxildelivery.pro/# amoxicillin 500mg cost
where to get cheap clomid without dr prescription [url=https://clomiddelivery.pro/#]can you get cheap clomid online[/url] how to buy clomid
Thomastierm
http://amoxildelivery.pro/# buy amoxicillin online uk
Myronnus
http://amoxildelivery.pro/# generic amoxicillin
ciprofloxacin generic [url=https://ciprodelivery.pro/#]cipro for sale[/url] buy generic ciprofloxacin
Myronnus
https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# buy doxycycline for dogs
Paxlovid over the counter [url=https://paxloviddelivery.pro/#]Paxlovid buy online[/url] п»їpaxlovid
Thomastierm
http://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# doxycycline 100mg tablets for sale
Jamesuterb
doxycycline cost uk: 40mg doxycycline online – buy doxycycline online cheap
Jamesuterb
buy ciprofloxacin: buy cipro no rx – buy cipro online without prescription
Myronnus
https://amoxildelivery.pro/# can i buy amoxicillin over the counter in australia
ciprofloxacin generic price [url=https://ciprodelivery.pro/#]cipro online no prescription in the usa[/url] ciprofloxacin mail online
Myronnus
https://ciprodelivery.pro/# buy cipro online canada
doxycycline 100mg dogs [url=http://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]100 mg doxycycline[/url] doxycycline price australia
Thomastierm
https://ciprodelivery.pro/# buy cipro cheap
Jamesuterb
where buy clomid: where can i buy cheap clomid price – where to get generic clomid without rx
Myronnus
https://amoxildelivery.pro/# buy amoxicillin canada
doxycycline 50 mg generic [url=https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]doxycycline prescription[/url] can i buy 40mg doxycycline online
Thomastierm
https://ciprodelivery.pro/# buy cipro online canada
Myronnus
http://amoxildelivery.pro/# generic amoxicillin 500mg
price of doxycycline 100mg [url=http://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]doxycycline 1mg[/url] doxycycline prescription
Jamesuterb
where can i buy cipro online: cipro for sale – ciprofloxacin 500 mg tablet price
Thomastierm
http://ciprodelivery.pro/# purchase cipro
Myronnus
https://clomiddelivery.pro/# buy generic clomid without insurance
doxycycline uk [url=https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]doxycycline prices[/url] doxycycline tablets
Myronnus
http://amoxildelivery.pro/# azithromycin amoxicillin
paxlovid covid [url=http://paxloviddelivery.pro/#]paxlovid price[/url] paxlovid covid
Jamesuterb
cipro ciprofloxacin: buy cipro online canada – where can i buy cipro online
Thomastierm
http://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid buy
Myronnus
https://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid generic
amoxicillin for sale [url=http://amoxildelivery.pro/#]can i buy amoxicillin over the counter in australia[/url] buy amoxicillin online cheap
Myronnus
https://clomiddelivery.pro/# order clomid prices
where to buy amoxicillin 500mg [url=https://amoxildelivery.pro/#]canadian pharmacy amoxicillin[/url] amoxicillin 500mg prescription
Thomastierm
https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# buying doxycycline online
Jamesuterb
Paxlovid over the counter: п»їpaxlovid – paxlovid price
Jamesuterb
amoxicillin 500 mg tablet: buy amoxicillin 500mg uk – amoxicillin tablet 500mg
Myronnus
http://amoxildelivery.pro/# cost of amoxicillin prescription
purchase cipro [url=http://ciprodelivery.pro/#]cipro ciprofloxacin[/url] ciprofloxacin 500 mg tablet price
Myronnus
https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# buy online doxycycline without prescription
cheap clomid [url=https://clomiddelivery.pro/#]can i purchase clomid tablets[/url] buying generic clomid
Thomastierm
https://clomiddelivery.pro/# can i buy cheap clomid without prescription
Jamesuterb
how to order doxycycline: doxycycline 100mg capsules price in india – doxycycline 100mg cap tab
Jamesuterb
ciprofloxacin over the counter: buy cipro without rx – buy ciprofloxacin
Jamesuterb
where can i buy cheap clomid no prescription: where can i get clomid pill – order cheap clomid without a prescription