Who’s already on your personal Board of Directors?
Who do I think I am? I have insights to share. No one will read this. I am a good writer. I have 2 hours before my next call dedicated to writing this. I have something to say. This idea is stupid. Do I really think anyone will care about this? What if I get it wrong? What if I get it right? I have to get this done.
These are just a few of the thoughts running through my head as I write this.
Does this sound familiar? Do thoughts like these run through your head?
Every day, we look inwards and outwards as we make decisions, assess our performance, and get inspired. We listen to the voices in our heads. Sometimes they sound like ourselves. Sometimes they sound like others we know. Sometimes they come from outside. The mentors, thought leaders, others who have opinions. Sometimes it’s helpful. Sometimes it’s not. Sometimes it’s just overwhelming and exhausting.
Whether we’re aware of it or not, we each have our own personal board of directors, “a group of people who manage or direct a company or organization” (see Merriam-Webster). A group of people, or voices, who shape the way we approach the world.
But how often do we think about who we actually want on our personal board of directors?
When we think about WHO is on our personal board of directors, there are two classifications we can consider. The first are the internal (or inside) board members. Just like a large company may have executives within the company serve on their board, there are personas internal to ourselves who serve on our personal board of directors.
There are three kinds of internal voices who are probably already on your personal board of directors:
The Inner Critic
Sometimes called the Inner Critic, Inner Censor, or Inner Judge, this is the voice that’s critical about who we are and/or what we’re doing. Usually, we don’t have to find the inner critic’s voice. It finds us. And it finds us often.
While it may be tempting to try to vote the Inner Critic off the board, this voice has likely developed as a way to keep us safe. While the advice (or critique) it gives may be disproportionate to the situation, there may be pearls of wisdom hidden in the message. It’s often more helpful to find ways to modulate the Inner Critic, so it’s not the loudest voice in the conversation.
The Inner Guide
The Inner Guide is our internal knowing, the internal wisdom we have about a situation. It might be a gut reaction, a sense of moral duty or calling, or a spiritual intuition.
This voice may be quieter or less “in your face” than other voices. You may need to intentionally create space and opportunity to tune into its wisdom. This might be spending some time out in nature, doing a creative activity like painting or knitting, or participating in a spiritual ritual.
The Voice of Reason
This is the voice that tells us the factual truth. It speaks to the amount of money actually in the bank vs what’s coming due, the number of hours left before the deadline, or the fact that we’ve never before made lasagne.
Think of this voice being your own version of a Board Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer. It’s an important data point, and often a useful counterpoint. When the Inner Critic tells us we can’t possibly do it and the Inner Guide tells us we’re called to do it, the Voice of Reason helps us figure out what we know and we don’t know to be true about the path.
As you go about your week, take notice of when and how each of these board members show up in your life. What do they sound like? What messages do they share with you? How do you respond to their guidance?
In the coming weeks, I’ll share the four kinds of external voices who should be on your personal board of directors, and how you can effectively leverage your board as you iterate towards the person you’re becoming.
How do your internal board members of the Inner Critic, Inner Guide, and Voice of Reason show up in your life?
As you think about your personal board of directors, you probably realize there’s opportunity to explore this further. Want some help? Book your free strategy session and let’s dig in.
How will you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
September 26, 2024
About the author:
Christina Von Stroh is a leadership coach who helps her clients become wildly successful by applying iterative software development practices to achieve their dreams. Want to work with Christina to help you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
Book your free strategy session.
