A career advisory board may be just what you need to help you succeed in your career!

What’s a career advisory board? It’s a group of people who agree to share their perspectives on how you can advance in your career. They can provide you with advice, introductions, resources, feedback and support as you navigate your career.

When I was running my coaching business, I formed an advisory board to help me grow my business. The board consisted of 4 women - all of whom had different jobs and perspectives. They included the head of a major client, a marketing executive, an organizational development professional and a potential client. They were people I had either previously worked with or met through volunteer activities. They showed up every three months for a 90-minute meeting, even though their only compensation was a nice dinner afterward that I paid for and some great company with the other board members. They liked sharing their expertise, hanging out with the other board members, and knowing that they could call on me if they needed a favor.

Advisory boards don’t need to be limited to business owners trying to grow their businesses. You can form a career board of advisors to help you grow your career.

Your board can give you honest feedback about your pitch for a promotion.  They can suggest opportunities you should pursue, like events you should attend, online courses you should take, or organizations you should participate in. They can help you grow your network by introducing you to people who hold similar positions to yours in other companies or industries.  They can challenge your assumptions about what it takes to get ahead in your company. They can alert you to new opportunities like new job postings or available positions on a non-profit board.

Your board members might include people at different stages in their careers and might consist of some people who have a job similar to yours in an allied industry. Having four members makes for a diversity of perspectives.

If you are a project manager, your advisory board might include a project manager from a different team in your company, an HR professional, someone more senior from a previous job you had, and a successful friend from college who works in a different role in a different industry.
 
You should meet regularly, at least twice a year.  For each meeting, have a well-thought-out agenda on issues you want input on. The more specific you are about the advice you are seeking, the better.  For example, ask, “Who should I be meeting with if I want to move from working at a company to consulting?,” not “I’m thinking about moving into consulting, what do you think?” Meeting in-person (when that is again possible) is great, but Zoom works for now or if you’re geographically scattered.
 
Be appreciative of your board’s investment in your success. Thank them profusely. Let them know how you implemented their advice. Ask how you can help them. Give them an occasional thank you gift; it doesn’t need to be expensive.

My guess is that an advisory board will boost your career, and you already know people who would agree to serve on your board, regardless of where you are in your career.  All you need to do is ask!