Enlightened business leaders today hire leadership consultants and executive coaches to help with their leadership development programs. I’ve found that a number of my clients now prefer me to help them in the role of trusted advisor rather than expert consultant.
The partnership based on mutual respect and collaboration produces better results. However, the role of trusted advisor is sometimes misunderstood. Emory University distinguished Professor Dr. Jagdish Sheth offers these distinctions:
1. Expert Consultants provide knowledge; Trusted Advisors provide depth and breadth of knowledge
2. Expert consultants Tell; Trusted Advisors Listen
3. Expert Consultants provide Good Answers; Trusted Advisors Ask Great Questions
4. Expert consultants Control; Trusted Advisors Collaborate
5. Expert consultants provide Expertise; Trusted Advisors provide Insight
6. Expert consultants Analyze; Trusted Advisors Synthesiz
7. Expert consults develop professional trust; Trusted Advisors develop personal and professional trust
Over a twenty-five year coaching and consulting career, I have found the trusted advisor role based on mutual respect and trust to be very special. The leaders I work with truly are often lonely at the top. Their ability to be open and transparent with me sharing their hopes and fears often leads to more comfort creating an organizational culture based on similar values.
I love that we can often discuss trends in other industries, politics, religion, art, music and other topics that inform the leaders’ personal and professional growth. Leaders appreciate working with a thought partner to develop good judgment, and gain clarity in their decision-making. Establishing trust is critical to this somewhat sacred relationship.
Are you working in a professional services firm or other organization where executive coaches provide leadership development for senior leaders? Does your organization provide executive coaching to help leaders develop a more sustainable business? Trusted Advisors help enlightened leaders tap into their emotional intelligence and social intelligence skills to fully engage employees.
One of the most powerful questions you can ask yourself is “Would I benefit from working with a trusted advisor?” Emotionally intelligent and socially intelligent organizations provide executive coaching for collaborative leaders who are curious about creating sustainable businesses.