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Your Internal Board of Directors ... Part II: Red Flags, Green Lights and Wisdom

Guest post by: Sheila Kelly

Article Overview: If you are not paying attention to your gut, a built-in resource, you are ignoring a wise member of your Internal Board of Directors. To do so can be at great peril to yourself and/or your business.

Your Internal Board of Directors ... Part II: Red Flags, Green Lights and Wisdom

In parts I and II, I built a case for treating Michael Gerber’s 3 aspects of business (Technician, Manager, Entrepreneur) as parts of us that we can use as an Internal Board of Directors.

Today, I will talk about another aspect of self that is absolutely essential for solid decision-making in your business.

Although I would not say I am a fan of Donald Trump, something in his book, “The Art of the Deal” has stayed with me since I read it years ago: “… listen to your gut, no matter how good something sounds on paper.”

When working on a deal, Trump researches, gets the financials lined up, makes sure the ducks are in a row. But, that is not enough. He also ensures that he checks in with a key member of his Internal Board of Directors … his gut. No matter how good the numbers look, if Donald’s gut raises a red flag, he walks away. He may not know why. He simply trusts.

You may not call it your gut, but you are equipped with a communication system that can wave red flags or flash green lights. Malcolm Gladwell, in his book, “Blink,” calls it rapid cognition.

I call it inner wisdom.

It is not important what you call it. What is important is that, if you are not paying attention to this built-in resource, you are ignoring a wise member of your Internal Board of Directors. To do so can be at great peril to yourself and/or your business.

Coach Yourself: Write job descriptions for the members of your Internal Board of Directors: the technician, manager, entrepreneur and inner wisdom. Ask yourself: How can I increase collaboration between all these parts of my Internal Board of Directors?

(Note: there are many, many more parts or aspects of self. I have touched on but a fraction).

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Article Tags: art of the deal, board of directors, business success, coach yourself, coaching, donald trump, entrepreneurs, leadership



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