Your Personal Org Chart

When you think about an organizational chart, what comes to your mind? Most people think of the rigid charts that document the reporting lines in a big organization. It’s usually a top-down structure.

There’s a different way to create an org chart. In your business life, whether you’re inside a company or an entrepreneur in your own business, you need an org chart of the people that support you to be the best you can be. In addition, you need the same thing in your personal life. Unless you are a total introvert and don’t need anybody for anything, you need a personal org chart.

Let’s start with business. If you’re in a company, the org chart of your business holds the people within your organization that are your “go to people” for support. Maybe you have “Jill” on there because in your organization, Jill is someone who always knows what’s going on. If you’ve missed some of the water cooler conversation, you can check with Jill.

Then there’s your social needs for friends at work. Who do you have lunch with or go for a drink with after work? The Gallup organization has done multiple studies about what makes people successful at work. Having close relationships at work, personal connections, even having “a best friend at work” is attributed to success in the workplace. These things don’t always happen naturally; oftentimes we need to build them.

If you’re an entrepreneur and have your own business, you need an org chart of the people that support you in running your business. As an entrepreneur I have a virtual assistant, Sharon; I have my tech guy, Chris; I have a bookkeeper, Kaylyn; I have my CPA, Mike; I have my video guy, Jim.  I have a team of people that are spread across the country that I can use who have talents that I don’t have or do things I don’t have time to do. When I can delegate to my team, I can play a bigger game in my own business.  So the org chart of my life in my business is my support team.

Last but certainly not least, you need an org chart for your personal life. I found this was important to me when planning a balanced and fulfilling life.  In order for me to step away from my work, I need to put things in my personal life that call me to action. If you’ve read any of my previous posts, I am a member of the Oakland Renegades Dragon Boat Racing Team. That group is on my personal org chart. They meet my need for getting physically fit and for leaving my office for paddling practice.  I’ve developed great friendships with people on the team. We do things socially as well as Dragon Boat racing.

In addition on my Personal Org Chart, I have my best friend Judy. Since I was 12 years old- she’s the one I talk to when I need to share great things and or need a shoulder to lean on.  I have eight different people or groups on my personal org chart. These are people that make my life richer and fuller.

As we move into 2013, hopefully you’ve looked at some of the goals that you want to create for 2013. But think about the Org Chart of Your Life in these three different areas and see where you’re going to get the support you need to make 2013 your best year yet.