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Yesterday, one of my occasional meetings with Tim Thackrah to just catch up with each other, share our lives and coach each other as friends.
We walked through Regents Park, up Primrose Hill, through Camden Village to The Locks and along the Regents Canal to Kings Cross. Coffee and lunch along the way.
Of course I have my business coach and wouldn't be without, but it helps to have what Dan Sullivan (Strategic Coach) calls a "Personal Board of Directors", which not only includes paid advisors (coach, accountant, lawyer, IFA) but also some "Thoughtful Critics".
(See attachment below and create your own Personal Board)
The "Thoughtful Critics" are people whose opinion you respect, and invite, but you don't pay them. They are most likely friends, not family, not business partners, not team members, not suppliers.
That means they are free to give you the feedback that maybe doesn't come from the aforementioned categories, because they have no vested interest.
Should you be lucky enough to have some "Thoughtful Critics", here are some tips:
Meet to talk and walk - Tim and I always walk around London - weather permitting outdoors but alternatively a museum, art gallery etc. Walking and talking makes for a creative dynamic;
Leave your ego at home and ask for and expect some tough love;
Bring The Chimp, because your "Thoughtful Critic" will silence your negative companion;
Split the time down the middle so that you can reciprocate.
I'm a lucky guy - I have more than one "Thoughtful Critic" and I make sure we walk as often as our mutually busy schedules allow.
Thank you Tim, for a great day.
p.s. I also take clients for walks - coaching whilst you are walking is incredibly effective. Try taking team members for walks to talk shop and talk about them.