How to Build the Right Inner Circle to Excel in 2026
Christopher O.H. Williams (Netherlands)
Courage can feel like a solitary act at life’s pivotal moments. In reality, it rarely is. In an era of rapid change, constant noise, and increasing complexity, we are shaped, strengthened, and sometimes steadied by the voices around us. Because none of us is all-knowing or fully resourced, we rely on others to help us see what we cannot see alone. But we must see them as working for us and not the other way around. These are the voices we not only want but need to hear.
The real question is not whether we need support, but whether we have chosen the right people to provide it, and how intentionally we build that inner circle for 2026.
The best protection against unhelpful and distracting social influence is our own appointed support system. We must seek out and connect with people who have a beneficial effect on us and who we know will back us in pursuing our purpose. These are trusted people whom we can turn to for guidance and emotional support at any time and be assured of direct but uplifting feedback. I call this my inner circle.
So who’s in your inner circle? You can consider them your personal advisory board. These could be people with whom you have a long or strong relationship. Or they could be members of your network that you seek out or rely on from time to time. Your family could be part of your inner circle, too. The only requirement of them all is that you trust them to give honest advice that places your interests front and centre.
For example, my innermost circle includes my wife, mother, siblings, a few childhood friends, two former work colleagues, a former administrator from my undergraduate alma mater, and a professional coach who is more of a friend.
My siblings know me better than anyone; we had the same upbringing, even if we have different career paths. My younger brother is a professional chef, a great listener, completely nonjudgmental, full of pragmatic insights, and completely family devoted. He is not a corporate clone, which makes his perspective valuable when I need just common-sense advice. My mom is always available and, like my younger brother, always a reliable source of refreshing insights that come from outside my professional world.
Six of my closest childhood peers and I exchange texts daily. We also meet for a weekend every year and counsel each other nonstop. We understand each other’s roots and subsequent journeys and have been friends since the 1970s and ’80s. One of my former bosses – one of my closest advisors and most ardent supporters – has a measured, thoughtful, and objective way of thinking that I’ve always respected and benefited from. He gives feedback that is both honest and constructive without ever being pessimistic or unrealistic. The same can be said of another colleague with whom I worked at adidas and came to trust the moment I first met him.
In our professional and personal lives, many of us have benefited from mentors, sponsors, career coaches, and therapists, and while they all factor into our success model, I speak of my inner circle with some distinction. I’ve chosen these people intentionally, not by default or chance. These are the voices I need to hear most. I trust them because they know me well and fully support my purpose. And they would all go to bat for me – ours is not a transactional relationship.
Source: iCN Issue 52 (The Impact of Executive Coaching on Leadership); pages 44-46
About Christopher O.H. Williams
Christopher O.H. Williams is a former Fortune 500 executive who serves as a business consultant, executive mentor, board director, and public speaker on strategy and transformation. His career has spanned four continents, with senior corporate and management roles at Nike, Adidas, Goldman Sachs, Gap, VF Corporation, and Lehman Brothers. He is also the author of C.O.U.R.A.G.E., an empowering guide that combines real-life stories, personal experiences, important concepts, and practical steps and tools to take action, reach potential, and lead an authentic life free from regret.
