2-minute read
Whether at the beginning of a career or as a senior executive, at some point, we all feel alone in navigating our career opportunities and obstacles. Yet, a wealth of advice and guidance is waiting outside your door, ready to be harnessed. Spoiler alert: it’s not on TikTok.
Many of us have or have had formal or informal mentors, advisors, and coaches. These individuals’ unique experiences and perspectives are valuable assets and an important component for building a vibrant career.
Stress-testing their wisdom using a curated career sounding board allows you to expand upon the guidance of your advisors with new approaches and ideas.
The true value of a sounding board lies in its ability to blend a variety of perspectives from past, present, and future-focused thinking. This diversity of thought and experience fosters dynamic conversations and sparks new ideas and approaches. So, when assembling your sounding board, invite individuals who can offer unique perspectives and bring diverse thoughts, ideas, and experiences to the table.
When inviting people to become part of your sounding board, think beyond your business network. Many people have shaped who we are and how we think. Peers and colleagues from past roles in other industries, volunteer work, clubs, athletics, school, coaches, and people from our communities can all be valuable contributors.
You’ll get a wide range of perspectives to consider.
Most of us have more extensive networks than we think.
A Blend of Advisors and Ideators
Advisors (past perspective)
Look for mid-late career professionals with experience in the same or similar industry. A good candidate is a present or past mentor. These individuals offer the benefit of their industry experience and the clarity of hindsight to help you address your areas of growth and concern. Advisors provide institutional knowledge and leading practices to help you perform effectively within your chosen field.
Entrepreneurs (present perspective)
Identify the serial entrepreneurs in your network. You want at least one entrepreneur on your sounding board, as these are builders. They know how to ideate, activate, and organize resources to launch an idea in real-time. Entrepreneurs are also well acquainted with managing risk. Incorporating an entrepreneurial mindset into your work is critical for advancing your career.
Creatives (future perspective)
Painters, filmmakers, writers, creatives. Creatives sit outside the confines of the business world and dream. They think about what the world could be and give voice to that vision. Creatives feel free from market factors or resources, allowing them to develop fresh approaches to your career challenges. Having a creative on your sounding board helps to prevent groupthink by focusing on new ideas for what your future could look like.
Why People Will Join Your Sounding Board
It may be awkward to ask your network to join your sounding board. For most of us, it is harder to ask than to give, so asking others to join can be difficult.
I promise that if you ask someone to join your sounding board, the overwhelming response will be yes. Here’s why:
- Humans are wired to give to others to strengthen community
- This is a platform to share experiences and talk about themselves
- Most people enjoy trying to solve other people’s issues
- Most people like to work as a collective because it’s more fun
- Your participants will be expanding their networks by serving on your sounding board
- Asking someone to join your sounding board makes them feel valued
- Establish a clear meeting schedule of 3-4 times/year
Activating a sounding board is energizing as it keeps ideas fresh and flowing and keeps you accountable to the career goals you’ve set.
When you experience the benefits, pay it forward by sharing the idea with someone else.
If you know or have a young person starting out in their career, or if you hire them, this book is for you.
Make Your Internship Count:
Find, Launch, and Embrace Your Career