I recently got a call from an executive with whom I’d worked a few years back. Don, currently President at a growing midsize company, called me with a leadership dilemma. He asked whether I would come to NYC to meet with him and consider ways to help. “Of course,” I said. A couple of days later, I was listening to his story live at his beautiful high-rise office space in midtown Manhattan.
The backdrop is this: Don had been recruited to his current company two years ago. In that time, the size of his organization had tripled, and the business was On Fire (in the best possible sense). And now, he and his leaders were dealing with the exciting but substantial challenge of continuing to win new accounts, serve current clients exceptionally well, stay focused on strategic priorities, and drive top-notch execution.
While Don and I hadn’t seen one another in a couple of years, he’d been keeping up with my newsletters and social media posts. He’d been reflecting on the amazing results he achieved during our prior engagement. And he recalled the ease with which we had worked together.
And so, I am delighted to know, Don had come to see me as his trusted advisor, or strategic confidant, with whom he could openly share challenges and opportunities, and to whom he could turn for advice.
In my experience with successful executives like Don, I’ve found there are five advisors every leader must have. And I’m sure you could add to those I’ve identified here. I’d love to hear from you with additional ideas or questions!
If you’re wondering whether you need to work with a trusted advisor, and if they can really help CEOs build their teams and business success, watch this video. Comment if you have any questions…
The KLX Leadership Team took a strategic pause this week to focus on 2019, both achieving our results amidst our growing pains, and leading ourselves and our teams through the challenges and changes ahead as we embark on our integration journey. Dr. Liz Bywater led us through a great day together and provided sound guidance and practical and easy to use solutions. The team left more cohesive than ever, energized and ready for all 2019 has in store for KLX.
– John Cuomo, Group Vice President and General Manager, KLX Aerospace Solutions, a Boeing Company
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