Why practitioners need two personal boards of directors to thrive
TL;DR: Stop waiting for a perfect mentor to appear. Practitioners thrive when they build two personal boards of directors: a Growth & Mentorship Board that pushes their skills forward, and a Business Board (lawyer, accountant, financial advisor) that safeguards their career as a business. Together, they provide the scaffolding for sustainable success.
The Myth of the Mentor
For decades, career advice has boiled down to a simple command: find a mentor. As if the right person would appear, ready to shepherd you through every twist of your professional life. The truth? Formal mentorship is rare, unevenly distributed, and often more myth than reality.
Too many practitioners wait, hoping someone senior will “take them under their wing.” And in the meantime, opportunities slip by, decisions are made in isolation, and confidence erodes. It’s time to rethink the model.
Build Two Boards, Not One Guru
Successful leaders don’t rely on one person’s wisdom—they surround themselves with boards of directors. Practitioners can do the same. Instead of searching for the perfect mentor, design two personal boards of directors that cover the full spectrum of your growth.
1. The Growth & Mentorship Board
This isn’t about hierarchy. It’s about surrounding yourself with people who push you to grow.
- Peers who walk the same road and understand your struggles in real time.
- Reverse mentors (often younger or in different domains) who bring fresh perspectives on technology, culture, and work practices.
- Role models whose example keeps you aiming higher—even if the relationship is more observational than direct.
Think of this board as your professional gym: it builds your skills, sharpens your thinking, and keeps you accountable for development.
2. The Business Board
Every practitioner is also, whether they admit it or not, running a business—the business of themselves. A true professional protects and grows that enterprise. That’s where the Business Board comes in.
- A lawyer who ensures contracts and intellectual property protect you, not just your clients.
- An accountant who helps you structure income, expenses, and taxes to work for you.
- A financial advisor who aligns today’s earnings with tomorrow’s security.
This isn’t just for entrepreneurs or independents. Internal change practitioners benefit just as much: career pivots, severance negotiations, side ventures, and retirement planning all fall squarely in this domain.
Why Two Boards Matter
The Growth Board ensures you’re not standing still. The Business Board ensures the foundation you’re building on doesn’t collapse. Together, they form a scaffolding for sustainable success.
Without both, the risks are real:
- A brilliant practitioner who never learns to navigate politics or emerging trends eventually becomes irrelevant.
- A highly skilled consultant who ignores the mechanics of business eventually burns out or goes broke.
Your boards balance each other out—stretching you toward possibility while keeping you grounded in reality.
How to Start Building Them
- List the gaps. Ask yourself: where do I consistently feel unsupported? Skill development? Financial planning? Legal confidence?
- Start small. Invite one or two people into each circle. You don’t need a dozen directors; you need the right ones.
- Formalize it. Treat them like a board: schedule check-ins, ask direct questions, and show up prepared.
- Give back. Boards are reciprocal. Offer your expertise, make introductions, and share what you’re learning.
Real Talk
I’ve coached countless practitioners who were waiting for that one perfect mentor to appear. It almost never happens. The most successful people I know took the opposite path: they built the scaffolding they needed. They created circles of peers, reverse mentors, and senior advisors—and they assembled trusted business allies to make sure their careers were financially sustainable.
Executives would never dream of leading without a board. Why should practitioners?
Final Thought
Don’t wait for mentorship to find you. Build two boards of directors: one that accelerates your growth, and one that safeguards your business. Together, they’ll help you turn a fragile career into a resilient one.
ChangeGuild: Power to the Practitioner™
Frequently Asked Questions
Because no single mentor can cover all aspects of growth and business. A personal board of directors gives you multiple perspectives and safeguards, just like executives rely on boards.
What is a Growth & Mentorship Board?
It’s a circle of peers, reverse mentors, and role models who push your skills forward, keep you accountable, and help you navigate career challenges.
What is a Business Board?
A business board includes professionals like a lawyer, an accountant, and a financial advisor who protect your career as a business, ensuring long-term security.
Who should be on my personal boards?
For growth: peers, colleagues, and role models. For business: trusted professionals with expertise in finance, legal, and strategy. Choose people who bring value in different ways.
Do I need to formalize these boards?
Yes. Treat them like real boards—schedule check-ins, ask for guidance on specific issues, and contribute value in return. The formality creates accountability.
Can I build boards even if I’m early in my career?
Absolutely. Early practitioners benefit from both boards by accelerating growth and avoiding costly mistakes. Start small and expand over time.
Ready to Build Your Boards?
Don’t wait for a mentor to appear—design the scaffolding that grows and protects your career. At ChangeGuild, we coach practitioners on building the right boards, finding trusted advisors, and creating a system that sustains both your practice and your business.
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