The company you keep matters more than you think

A few years ago, when everything felt uncertain - my career, my confidence, even my next step - I started doing something I’d never really done before: I reached out.

Not to one person and not for a favour, but to a handful of people I trusted with the real version of what I was carrying. Some responded with practical advice. Some with deep empathy. One just sent a voice note that said, “Breathe. You’ve got this.”

It wasn’t a formal circle and they weren’t a committee, but their presence gave me the clarity and courage to keep going. And I realised then: this is what support looks like.

You don’t need a board, you need a circle

We’re often told to build a personal board of directors and that’s a clean, corporate idea that has its place. Strategic guidance, diverse perspectives, accountability... it can all be helpful.

But if you’ve ever tried to apply that concept to your real life, when you’re in the middle of grief, burnout, or a big, messy transformation, you’ll know that what you need isn’t a professional development plan. It’s people who see you, full stop.

Growth doesn’t always follow a quarterly cadence. And some of the best support doesn’t come from someone senior, or in your industry, it comes from someone who knows your heart.

What real support looks like

Sometimes it’s the friend who calls after your big presentation - not to ask how it went, but to remind you to eat. Or it’s the colleague who drops you a message just to say, “I saw your name on that project and knew it would be good”. Or the old manager who still sends you job leads because they believe in you, even now.

They might not sit on any formal “board”, but they’re in your corner. When you start to gather those people intentionally, and when you give thought to who’s in your life and how you’re supported, it can change everything.

But here’s what’s equally important: it’s not just about what you receive, it’s also about what you give. The strongest circles are built on mutual care, not obligation. Reciprocity is the quiet rhythm that keeps these relationships alive. Because when support flows both ways, everyone in the circle rises.

The people you deserve around you

Too many of us have learned to only show up when we’re “useful”. We try to be the helper, the fixer, the one who has it all together. But in truth, you deserve relationships where you’re not just needed, you’re nurtured.

Your circle should reflect your wholeness, not your highlight reel, so the people around you should be able to hold your ambition and your uncertainty. Your spreadsheets and your spirals. The big wins and the quiet seasons. That’s what support should look like.

Build Your Guild (if you don’t know where to start)

If this has you reflecting and wondering whether your current circle is meeting you where you are, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why I created Build Your Guild. It’s a self-paced reflection tool that helps you map, rethink, and gently reshape your support system. It isn’t about curating an impressive list of contacts. It’s about understanding what you really need, and who helps you feel most like yourself.

If you’re curious, you can click here to explore the workbook. It might just be the nudge you’ve been waiting for.

A final thought

Support doesn’t need a title to be powerful and you don’t need to earn it by being useful. So, please let people see you and hold space for you. Let them remind you who you are whenever you forget. Even the strongest among us need a circle. And you? You deserve a great one.