Why You Need a Career Advisory Board

Adaira Landry and Resa E. Lewiss are physicians who have written about small behavioral steps to help professionals navigate the workplace (2024). One recommended “small” step is to “identify and recruit your personal board of directors.” We agree with this idea, but we think the design and execution are far from a “small" step. Below, we discuss how you can structure one.

Why Valued Career Advisors Are Important in the 21st Century

Gert Jan Hofstede was a Dutch psychologist at Maastricht University. He and his research colleagues identified six core aspects of national culture. One of those six variables is “individualism.” (2015). American readers won’t be surprised to learn that the United States is a highly individualistic culture, with a national myth admiring “rugged individualists.” Seeking assistance from others in this culture may be seen a sign of weakness, but the reality is that the pace of change in the 21st century is so rapid that many leaders seek out external perspectives. Such impartial groups include the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) or Vistage for CEOs. There is also a Chief Operations Officer Forum. Our own company runs a monthly forum for Chief HR Officers.

We can compare leadership to driving an automobile: As the speed of a vehicle increases, the driver's peripheral vision decreases. Similarly, as the speed of business increases, leaders’ peripheral vision decreases. Advisory groups are critical professional sensors who can warn you about threats, or opportunities, you may be too busy to attend.

Identify Impartial Talent. Young professionals often need help understanding why experienced professionals would want to provide career assistance. The answer is that some (not all) executives find it fun to play a role in grooming the next generation of leaders.

The setting of your personal Advisory Board might be a group dinner or a 1:1 online. Landry and Lewis suggest that you ask yourself these questions when considering an advisory group:

1. Who is competent at handling difficult conversations?
2. Who has calm maturity and wisdom?
3. Who do I trust to keep our conversation confidential?
4. We would add a fourth consideration: Who has no direct or indirect incentive to bias responses to your questions?

Set the Agenda a Year in Advance. Many professionals use coaches to help them manage their careers, just as professional golfers employ coaches to improve their game. Coaches tend to focus on tactical issues. An Advisory Group, on the other hand, should focus your attention on your 1-to-3-year career horizon. Sample questions would be:

• Should I remain in my current job or seek employment elsewhere?
• What work certifications or degrees do I need to advance my career?
• Given my values and life goals, am I in the right profession?

Your clearly-defined advisor agenda might be a commitment to meet group members 1:1 or as a group twice yearly. They will appreciate you setting clear boundaries on their time commitment in advance.

Set Term Limits. Nobody wants to be your mentor “forever.” We recommend setting term limits; for example, terms of office of two years for to a maximum of two two-year terms. Setting terms of two years allows a mutually gracious way to end the formal relationship. If both parties wish to sign up for another two years, that is always an option.

By structuring term limits, you create opportunities to introduce fresh perspectives to your advisory group as you mature. It also makes advisors' departure impersonal. (Reiter, 2003).

Compensate advisors. Compensation means “making up for something.” If you can afford to “make up” for valued advisor time spent helping you by paying cash, do so. However, other forms of compensation exist, such as volunteering to be a resource for their family members; for example, being a mentor to their grandchildren.

Where to Find Professionals. You want impartial advice, so do not ask friends, relatives, or work colleagues. Imagine your ideal professional life in 10 years. Look at your college or graduate-school alumni directory. Are there people who have the life you aspire to? These are the people you want to approach.

Career Essential Reads

To Go or Not to Go (to the Office)

Why Entrepreneurs Often Fail

Summary and Conclusions

Assembling a professional Advisory Group may go against America's ideal of rugged individualism, but in a rapidly-changing world we all need an impartial structure to help identify dangers and opportunities.