It’s the holiday season, when our thoughts intensify on friends and family. Most of us have had a favorite aunt or uncle that we’ve gone to for sage advice. Maybe we prefer them to our parents because they seem more objective and confidential, they listen well, are positive and patient, they’re a safe harbor, or they know how to say the right thing at the right time. In my life these folks have been indispensible and have helped shape who I am. In business I can think of a few key people that have helped me in similar ways, and to no one’s surprise they wouldn’t be found on the organization charts.
As we leaders turn to our business family, we look for the same characteristics as with that trusted uncle or aunt. And just like our personal family, people in our immediate “work family” usually aren’t right for the role. What we often need – but don’t have – is someone that can understand our situation and provide some solid impartial advice.
Consultants and business advisors can fill this role once they gain a leader’s trust. Ram Charan is one of these people and has proven to be indispensible to the leaders of P&G, Verizon, and Honeywell, to name a few. We at Northpoint fill this role for our clients, and while we have the capability and experience to deploy game-changing techniques, it’s often our role as a trusted advisor that’s most valued.