As a business owner, who do you turn to for advice and guidance when the going gets tough or when you are unsure how to proceed?
While friends and family will always have your best interests at heart, they don’t necessarily understand the challenges you face in business, or what it’s like to be in your (business) shoes. You may not want to ‘burden’ them with the difficulties you face in the workplace either.
In times like these, you need a trusted advisor to turn to. Someone who has earned your trust and admiration through their demonstration of knowledge and success in your field.
This can be an individual or a group of people who actively express genuine interest, emotion and understanding towards the challenges you face. They will make time for you to share your concerns, voice your opinions, listen with the intent to understand and will share their knowledge to help you find a resolution. They will have the ability to ask relevant questions that help you uncover ideas and truths that otherwise are not apparent.
Your trusted advisor(s) should have a wealth of experience in your discipline, or on the specific topic at hand. Be selective about whose advice you take onboard. If someone has already walked the walk and talked the talk, it’s more likely that the advice they are giving you is coming from a place of experience and not just an opinion or worse, a guess. The advice they provide should be well informed, strategic and insightful for your current and future situation.
Finding someone that you ‘click with’ from the start will facilitate a relationship of mutual understanding. There is nothing more frustrating that listening to a ‘know it all’ or someone who rubs you up the wrong way. On the contrary, listening to someone who you have a great rapport with can be engaging and enjoyable for everyone, even when the conversations and situations get tough.
Finally, look for someone who puts your interests before their own. Remember, their priority should be to help you make your own choices – not make decisions for you or coerce you into doing or saying something you do not agree with. Ultimately, the business is yours and their role is to impart their knowledge and expertise to help you achieve your goals.