“When we buy a product [or service], we essentially ‘hire’ something [or someone] to get a job done”, says Clayton Christensen, Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, in his new book “Competing Against Luck”.

Why Hire a CEO Advisor?

What “job” do clients hire CEO Advisors to do? Here are some answers from experienced CEOs we know:

• “…help me stay accountable”.
• “…help me understand when to push, when to pull back, when to seek input and when to decide and move forward”.
• “…provide an objective and unemotional ear when you need one”.
• “…provide a truly independent eye…safe sounding board…an honest objective source of feedback”.
• “…to be someone I tell things to that I don’t tell anyone else…”

Deeply Trusted Partners

CEO Advisors are deeply trusted partners to CEOs who face difficult challenges and decisions on a daily and hourly basis. One client described his relationship with his Advisor as feeling like he has a partner, “…whose only goal in life is to help make [me] a better CEO”.  To give you a flavor of what the relationship between a CEO and her advisor is like, the following are excerpts from recaps of recent client meetings (names omitted to preserve confidentiality):

• “…seems like you are willing to accept what you know is unacceptable. What will it take to change your behavior around this?”
• “…there is an opportunity for you to send a message to the organization about the importance of inspirational leadership. Your leaders are expecting more clarity from you.”
• “…you have two (or perhaps three) paths for growth. Question: How do you prioritize the three paths to growth? Is focusing on all three in 2017 too much?
• “…thought you looked tired today. Are you getting enough sleep and exercise?”
• “…nice job last night. The evening was fun and moving and you succeeded as MC.”
• “…now that you are clear about what needs to be done, the question you need to ask is ‘Am I the right person to lead this?’.

 Get Started

Looking for someone who cares singularly about your success? Someone who has sat in the CEO chair and understands the challenges you face? Someone who will listen AND tell you the truth, even when it is hard to hear?

You need a CEO Advisor.

Contact Sal Mondelli at 612-325-9607 to get started.