Need Support with Your Advisory Board Formation?
Using best practice principles and process, I help you to plan, prepare and then form your Advisory Board.
I bring a proven roadmap with a framework and structure to insure success.
Board Formation Steps
The Formation Process with Me
Step 1
Contact me to set up an initial discovery call. In that call, I'll ask you a lot of questions to determine if I can be a good fit to help you form an advisory board for your business. If we feel like there is a fit, we'll discuss the process and options available to you, the investment required and even more so, the expectations you'll need to have for yourself if we proceed.
If we agree to work together, we'll sign an agreement to do so. Agreements with me as Advisory Board Chair are typically 18-36 months. But, in some instances, you may only want me to support the formation of your Board. In that case, we typically do that in two to three months. For pop-up boards, ad hoc or other project advisory boards, formation can take longer, depending on the scope of the requirements. All this is fleshed out in the Discovery Call.
Step 2
Once we are clear on the direction, we initiate the Board Starter Program. In this process I'll request a lot of different information from you to help me quickly orient myself to your company situation, needs and goals. I'll also ask you to complete some surveys and assessments to provide a objective baseline for future measurement and clarity about work that needs to be done. Then we'll schedule a series of meetings to:
- Establish Advisory Board priorities
- Write the Advisory Board Charter
- Clarify the specific advisor structure, the type of advisors required and a process to recruit them
Step 3
We'll confirm the initial Advisory Board members. It is important to note that you choose the Advisors, sign agreements and pay them, independent of my work. While I help to facilitate the process, to maintain true independence, I do not hire advisors. Once they are formally hired, I'll work with your chosen advisors to do a Board Orientation before the first formal meeting.
Step 4
With all that in place, we'll initiate the first formal Advisory Board meetings. These are half day meetings. As your Chair, I facilitate these meetings so you can be fully present to the process and not feeling the pressure to manage them. In each and every meeting, you'll have a Board Report you deliver, and you'll have specific objectives you wish to achieve.
In the months between meetings, I'll work with you to process the results of the meetings, raise new subjects for discussion and work to prepare for the upcoming meetings. Depending on the nature of the Charter, we may be seeking new advisors to join specific meetings to bring unique points of view to your situation.
Why An Advisory Board?
Advisory Boards are not for Governance. They are a "thinking," "problem-solving" and "insight" focused function. As Advisors are not legally bound to the organization, they are able to provide independent thinking and strategy, covering skills, capabilities or sectors the business leadership may not have access to otherwise.
Reasons for a formal Advisory Board:
- Growth opportunities: Having an advisory board to provide essential feedback on your strategy and growth can be a valuable asset for entrepreneurs. Advisors with hands-on experience can provide valuable insights and perspectives.
- International expansion: A board of advisors with market and cultural knowledge can help your business expand globally, taking advantage of opportunities with Advisors who've done it or are established in the target markets.
- Succession planning: As business owners age, it's important to plan for the future of the business. An Advisory Board can help with this process, whether it's guiding the next generation, preparing for a corporate takeover, or planning an exit strategy.
- Crisis management: An advisory board can help businesses navigate difficult situations, such as turning the company around, managing critical incidents, and dealing with unexpected events.
- Project-based advisory boards: Companies may establish advisory boards to help them think strategically about technology and digital disruption, identify future opportunities and manage potential pitfalls.
- Gaining insights and knowledge from experienced entrepreneurs who have been through the ups and downs of business.