Self-confidence

Creating my own personal board of directors

In her book It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor, Rebecca Shambaugh suggests that you create a virtual board of directors of people who support you and help to develop you. This concept translates well to the research environment and into helping you maintain your resilience by having some key points of reference, help and support. Building a personal advisory board doesn’t involve creating a committee, the members don’t actually meet each other and people may not know that they are on your advisory board – only you know. Some people will occupy a seat on that board for a long time, others for shorter periods and some may fulfil more than one role. Your advisory board might include: • Someone who is hugely supportive of you personally and professionally and encourages you to take opportunities • Someone who shares a working life with you and understands the joys and pressures of being at this stage in your working life • Someone who has some accumulated wisdom that can help you to get things in perspective