Every Woman Needs a Power Posse

I make big decisions the way I've always made them: gut instinct, and a stubborn belief that I'll handle whatever may go wrong later. It's worked out fine for this long-time single woman and on-again/off-again entrepreneur. But a few months ago, I had to make a career decision with real consequences for my retirement, and gut instinct didn't feel like enough.

For this decision, I wanted something different, a smart, experienced, truth-telling team of women who would help me look at a business opportunity from every angle. That's when I called on a group of friends I call my Power Posse. Made up of colleagues, former co-workers, select family members, and women I think are really cool, out-of-the box thinkers, these are people who always inspire me, and sometimes tell me to pump the brakes. 

Due to time zones, vacation homes, and work schedules, I couldn't round up everyone on one call, which meant I got to pitch my idea five times, and thankfully hone my presentation with each conversation. My friend in sales poked holes in some of my projections. My corporate guru offered sage advice on production timelines. A new friend who has mastered AI gave me some shortcuts for managing my growing workload. And my friend who is a decade ahead of me in age and experience offered important encouragement about taking a leap later in life. Without exception, these women gladly offered their time, expertise, unfiltered honesty, and tons of support, exactly what I expected and needed.

Creating Your Own Power Posse

Through 15 years of volunteering and working with boards in the non-profit world, I learned the importance of pulling together a team with a wide range of experience and skill. Each of the women in my Power Posse plays a unique role and has very specific input to offer. 

When assembling your own Power Posse, look for:

THE STRATEGIST - She focuses on the larger vision and how to get there.

THE ONE WHO TELLS IT LIKE IT IS - We all have that friend who is not afraid to send back the undercooked salmon or tell you that your colorist has missed the mark.

THE ONE WITH EXPERIENCE - She may be a few years older or a bit further along in doing whatever you are trying to accomplish. She provides a map based on her "been there/done that" experience.

THE SPECIALIST - This is the nuts and bolts person, an accountant, a lawyer, a doctor, a financial advisor who puts facts and figures to your expectations.

THE VISIONARY - She’s the one who makes up her own rules and encourages you to do the same.

You don't need everyone to weigh in on every decision, but you do need to know who you can call on for specific advice and which roles are currently empty.

Who Gets to Join?

Choose wisely. The friend who's exactly right for guidance through a messy divorce may not be the person you want weighing in on a career decision. Keep in mind that you're allowed to replace a Posse member when the advice feels out of alignment. Twenty years of friendship doesn't automatically earn someone a permanent vote.

And this is not about collecting a group solely for the purpose of venting. Venting partners do the important job of letting you feel heard and supported. In contrast, someone in your Power Posse is willing to disagree with you, and will push you from venting into action.

Time, and my 401(k), will tell whether or not I made the right business decision. But I did make it with my eyes open, informed by more than my own gut reaction. And bonus: a few of these women have invited me to do the same for them, so now it's my turn to bring honesty and experience to the table.