Your kitchen cabinet is part sounding board, part source of guidance.  It usually takes some time to assemble because of the experience and trust required.  In my observation, the kitchen cabinets of clients might only have 3-4 people but are worth their weight in gold during a crisis or when considering a strategic matter of great importance.

What are you looking for?

• Utter trust and confidentiality
• Experience (not necessarily in your industry) greater than yours
• Steadiness of temperament
• An outside perspective
• The willingness and ability to say difficult things to you and share their honest perspective
• Someone who doesn’t have a horse in the race and has your best interest at heart

What to observe as you’re getting to know someone?

• How does this person handle confidential information that isn’t yours?
• How insightful are they? Do they shine a light where you can’t see?
• Do they demonstrate a high degree of integrity?
• Are they more experienced/seasoned than you?
• Have they dealt with complex situations, crises, and responsibilities no matter their industry (for example, this person might be a religious elder)?
• Have you seen them under stress responding well and with steadiness?
• Are you comfortable talking with them and being vulnerable?

If no one immediately comes to mind, not to worry.  Kitchen cabinets are best built over time and might shift with your roles and responsibilities.  The key is keeping an eye out for those people from whom you can learn (I met one of the members of my cabinet while sitting at a conference years ago) and begin nurturing these types of relationships, even if many won’t make it to the very inner circle of your kitchen cabinet.

For more on working with me directly, go here and here for my executive coaching and consulting offerings.  I work with CEOs, senior executives, and their leadership teams to change outcomes and deliver results.  My next openings are in January.  (And, yes, I sit on kitchen cabinets.)  If you don’t see what you’re looking for, go here to drop me a note.

Anticipatory Leadership is my newest keynote and is being booked now for 2025.  For more on keynotes and workshops for your association conference or corporate event, go here.

Stay tuned for a special offer coming your way as we welcome the new year.  This is something that you don’t want to miss!

And… The 2024 season of The Making Magnificence Project® is about to be released.  You’ll find conversations with leadership luminaries as well as the addition this season of leaders on the forefront of the healing arts.