“You are who you surround yourself with. If you’re around people who are driven and believe in growth, then you’re more likely to believe in growth yourself.” — Ed Mylett
As leaders, we often find ourselves surrounded by people who want to encourage us, cheer us on, and offer praise. While this support is valuable, the true growth and transformation come from those who are willing to speak the hard truth in love. These are the people who don’t just tell you what you want to hear, but what you need to hear. They are your advisory board – the voices that challenge, sharpen, and guide you, helping you see things from a perspective you might not have considered. They are the ones who keep you grounded and remind you of your values when the world around you starts to cloud your judgment.
Who has a seat at your wisdom table? We all need truth-tellers in our lives – those who aren’t afraid to offer a different viewpoint, question our assumptions, and hold us accountable to the higher standards we set for ourselves. Without them, it’s easy to get caught in the echo chambers of our own thinking, believing that our way is always the best or the only way. These individuals help you see beyond your biases, offering insights that you might not have arrived at on your own.
The truth, when delivered with love, has the power to transform. It invites you to examine your blind spots, improve your decision-making, and grow in ways that will stretch your leadership. These are the voices that challenge you to do better, be better, and think beyond your comfort zone. Without them, you risk stagnation or, worse, falling into a trap of prideful thinking that can lead to poor decisions and a disconnected leadership style.
The higher you go in leadership, the more difficult it can be to find people who are willing to speak truth to power. As you grow in your journey, your circle shrinks, and it’s easy to surround yourself with “yes men” or people who only tell you what you want to hear. This is where the danger lies: the absence of constructive feedback. Without people who are willing to challenge you, you become isolated in your decision-making and less likely to adapt or learn. When you surround yourself with people who are too afraid to speak up or who simply want to keep you happy, your growth as a leader comes to a halt. Worse yet, it can lead to decisions that are based on pride, ego, or convenience, rather than wisdom.
Having an advisory board – a group of people who bring diverse perspectives to the table – helps protect you from making impulsive decisions based on incomplete information or emotional reactions. These are people who will challenge you when necessary, encourage you when you’re unsure, and provide counsel that helps you grow. They remind you of your values, hold you accountable to your purpose, and point you back to the principles that guide your leadership.
Your advisory board should consist of people who bring wisdom from different areas of life. It’s easy to fall into the trap of surrounding yourself with only those who think the same way, but true wisdom comes from diversity – not just in thought, but in experience, expertise, and perspectives. As you consider who to invite to your wisdom table, think of the following groups:
Personal
These are the people who know you the best – your spouse, a close friend, or a mentor who understands your values and character. They can see the deeper issues beneath your leadership role and offer insights that others may not be able to. They are your anchors, the ones who remind you of who you are outside of the title you wear.
Professional
These are people who bring expertise in areas you might not be familiar with – perhaps someone who understands the technical side of your business, or a peer who leads in a different industry. They challenge you to think strategically and help you navigate complex professional decisions.
Relational
It’s important to have people who can speak into your personal relationships, whether they be family dynamics, friendships, or the overall health of your connections. These advisors help you see beyond business performance and look at the people side of leadership – something that can often be overlooked when focusing too much on metrics.
Spiritual
Whether through religious faith or spiritual guidance, this group provides grounding principles that shape your values and decisions. They help ensure that you’re leading from a place of integrity, humility, and service, keeping you aligned with a higher purpose beyond personal ambition!
Each group brings unique insights, but all must be grounded in wisdom. The advice you receive should be rooted in value-based principles – things like honesty, integrity, compassion, and respect. If someone at your wisdom table offers advice that doesn’t align with these principles, it’s time to reassess whether they belong there!
As you continue to grow as a leader, it’s not just you who needs to evolve – your advisory board needs to grow with you. The people you rely on for counsel must also be growing in their own journeys. You need to seek those who are advancing in their expertise, their wisdom, and their ability to challenge you in meaningful ways. The relationships within your wisdom table should be dynamic, where mutual growth is prioritized over static advice.
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” — John Maxwell
Having a strong advisory board doesn’t just help you make better
decisions -it ensures you are always learning and improving, not just
as a leader but as a person. Growth requires ongoing dialogue, the
willingness to accept challenges, and the humility to admit when you’re
wrong. This can only happen when your wisdom table is filled with
people who are committed to your growth and not just maintaining
the status quo!
I’ll land the plane with this… As a leader, you are responsible for more than just your own success – you’re responsible for the growth of your team, the vision for the future, the culture of your organization, and the legacy you leave behind. But to do that, you need wise counsel. You need people in your life who will speak the truth in love, who will hold you accountable, and who will help you make decisions that align with your values.
So, ask yourself: Who has a seat at your wisdom table? Are they challenging you to grow, holding you to your values, and helping you become the leader you’re called to be? If not, it may be time to make some changes. Surround yourself with those who will push you, refine you, and help you build a legacy rooted in wisdom, integrity, and servanthood.
Your growth as a leader, and as a person, depends fully on it!