Businesses don’t just become trusted advisors overnight. It has to be earned. This is because trusted advisors have to demonstrate over a period of time they are knowledgeable and invaluable in their field of play.
So, what are the main traits of a trusted advisor? Let’s take a look:
Trusted advisors will express genuine emotion towards their customers and their challenges. They will actively listen to your key problem areas and show empathy towards them, instead of brushing them under the rug.
A trusted advisor will do the following when you’re engaging with them about your transformation project:
Due to the complexity of business processes, especially when looking to introduce new systems or software, you’ll want to receive guidance from an advisor with a wealth of experience. You should look out for:
Having an advisor who can demonstrate credibility in your industry inspires confidence they can make well informed, strategic decisions based on your current situation. For example, if they impress you with their knowledge of the latest trends in your industry, valuable insights like these can assist you in retaining your competitive edge.
Additionally, trusted advisors will be aware of the most appropriate solutions within your field. With a PSA (professional services automation) tool, for example, they should look at your current processes and explore the features of the tool that integrate best to maximise your efficiency.
You can increase the confidence that you're choosing the right project for your business to take on board with this knowledge, allowing you to gain clarity on the options that provide the best return on investment.
The closer trusted advisors dial into your needs and wants from future business projects, the better constructive feedback you’ll receive. Before diving into a project, they will establish a relationship with you, bridging the gap between having a transactional connection to a personal one instead.
Additionally, trusted advisors communicate effectively on a range of topics to establish a rapport with you right from the get-go, and you’ll notice the relationship feels like a ladder you’re climbing together step-by-step.
Pressures to record chargeable hours and hit billing targets are just a couple of the main challenges facing professional services firms today. Trusted advisors will recognise it’s ultimately down to you to decide which direction to take your project, however, with their expertise, this can enhance your decision-making process. With vast industry knowledge and understanding of how these challenges will affect you, trusted advisors can provide strategic direction to your own plans, which will improve your chances of project success.
Their role is to help you understand the pros, cons and everything in-between of your project's direction. They will present the options available to you (and possibly suggest their recommendations) but they won’t make the decision for you.
At Columbus, we believe that successful projects are built on the back of great relationships, where your project teams are seen as trusted advisors. We understand that the professional services landscape changes constantly, which is why we spend time developing a deep understanding of our customers, to ensure they can be as agile as possible in their field.
Agility helps you gain better control over your key resources to deal with even the most unexpected situations, so how can you further support your agility to serve the needs of your business and your customers? Download our interactive infographic today and discover how you can:
And more! Get your copy below.