Let’s be honest. Doing life, leadership, and parenthood all at once can feel like you’re running three companies with one brain. You’re the CEO, the HR department, and the janitor. And if you’re not careful, you end up leading all of it from inside your own head.
That’s where a personal board of directors comes in.
If you’re in a leadership role, you already know the power of surrounding yourself with the right people – but have you done that for yourself? The people who hold space for you, challenge you, and help you see what you can’t when you’re deep in the weeds of life and work?
I didn’t always have mine. Early in my career (and early in motherhood), my circle looked a lot like me – smart, busy, getting stuff done. We could swap stories and validate each other’s chaos all day. But very few were pushing me. No one was calling me out when I defaulted to “fine.”
Over time, I built what I now call my personal board of directors. It’s evolved as I have. Now, I can’t imagine navigating life without them.
Some lift me up when I’m depleted. Some poke holes in my thinking (respectfully, but directly). Some hold me accountable to what I said I’d do (even when I’d rather they let it slide.) Others push me to think way bigger than I’m able to on my own. And then there are the ones who simply inspire me by how they lead, parent, or live.
They’re not all friends. They’re not all coaches. They’re not all people who agree with me. And that’s the point. Each one plays a different role. Together, they help me grow as a leader, as a parent, and as a human.
If you’re feeling stuck, uninspired, or like you’re talking in circles, it might be time to look at who’s sitting on your board – and who’s NOT. Are they challenging you, grounding you, or just cheering you on from a safe distance? Are they expanding your thinking or echoing what you already know?
What to do with this?
Take ten minutes this week to name the people on your personal board of directors. Who’s lifting you up? Who’s holding you accountable? Who’s stretching your perspective?
And then ask yourself: where might there be an empty seat?
Because your growth, your leadership, your presence – they don’t happen in isolation. They’re shaped by the people you let into your world.
Choose your board intentionally. Make room for the ones who see you, challenge you, and remind you who you’re becoming.
That’s how you lead (and live!) on purpose.