Two important steps to being a leader others will follow are developing more self-awareness and developing a solid strategy for your professional development and career. One of the best ways to do this is to actively seek input from mentors and advisors.
Your boss, your spouse, friends, or other family members can all play this role, but I caution against relying solely on them to provide guidance. They all likely have strong opinions about what you should and shouldn’t do, and most likely, they also have some kind of “skin in your game” – in other words, your decisions and actions impact them in some way. Instead, create your own “advisory board” so you can get a variety of perspectives from people who aren’t directly affected by your choices.
This was a major mistake I made in my career! I relied on my bosses to guide me and define my leadership. I allowed my direct colleagues, friends’ and family’s experiences define my perceptions of what was and wasn’t possible. I focused too much of my energy on getting stuff done. I took on everything that I was asked to do, thinking that would help me advance.
What I didn’t do was take the time to learn from people outside my circle, my organization, or my industry. I didn’t proactively evaluate what I needed to do, or who I needed to be to take my leadership to the next level. I didn’t cultivate a big enough or diverse enough network to expand my perception of who I am was, what I could do, and the impact my strengths and skills could have. And instead of helping me advance, this actually held me back.
This advice isn’t just for early careerists – we need to gain perspective throughout our careers. And it’s not just limited to when you want to get a new job, or even to your professional life only. Tap into your advisory board to help you be your best version of you, to make the best decisions for you, and for support throughout your life and career to enable you to be the leader others want to follow.
If you could have anyone in the world on your personal advisory board, who would it be? Share your advisory board pick in the comments below.
