{"id":185,"date":"2018-08-22T08:24:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-22T08:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/colinear.co\/?p=185"},"modified":"2022-06-29T11:52:33","modified_gmt":"2022-06-29T11:52:33","slug":"can-you-be-trusted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/colinear.co\/can-you-be-trusted\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you be trusted?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Recently I met with a couple of my peers and friends \u2013 we were talking about communication (as usual). When we get together it always leads to a conversation about putting the world to rights and how we plan to make an impact as we run our businesses. If someone were to listen in we would sound like idealists, wanting to create a better world as we fix leaders, organisations, communication professionals, our peers and improve ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the discussion continued we moved on to how we lead as communicators and the way we need to be to deliver great work. For a long time, we have heard the term \u2018trusted advisor\u2019 and although it is talked about less nowadays, it is still a relevant description of who we need to be. Like so many things, it\u2019s easy to say the words and to include them on job descriptions, but what does it really mean? What does it look like in practice and how do we really become \u2018trusted\u2019?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To explore these themes, I thought I\u2019d share some ideas for two main reasons. Firstly, to help us as communication professionals to gain clarity and direction. But also, for leaders -our clients, to raise their expectations and so they can see us as effective business partners they can trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To step into this place, I believe we need to be more confident and have a focused attitude. Confident of our skills and the advice we can offer to ensure that senior leaders can make the right decisions about pretty much everything; from how to communicate in a crisis to what new technology to sign off on. We also need to be unafraid to be challenging when necessary, but this comes from building relationships with leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has been a lot of talk about our value and effectiveness \u2013 our place in the boardroom. But we can ask ourselves, why would a leader invite us into the board room? What would we bring to add value? Would we have the gravitas and business acumen to hold our own and present a strong case for communication?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

InVMA\u2019s report \u2018Beyond Communication\u2019<\/em>it states what business leaders expect from communication professionals today: \u201cthe modern CEO is looking for strong commercial understanding; a strategic business leader who sits at the inner core of the organisation and proactively connects, coordinates and facilitates the business to achieve its strategic objectives\u2026This new breed of communications director must have new competencies for a new age \u2013 no longer simply a wise counsel or an interpreter of executive output\u2026but drivers, strategic thinkers, and entrepreneurial leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the direct quotes went further: \u201cI want my director of communications to challenge me; to teach me as well and help with my blind spots\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what does it mean to be a trusted advisor?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a trusted advisor is about having the experience, training, knowledge and expertise to be trusted, to advise your clients well. It indicates behaviours and that you are disciplined and professional. This general definition is well known, but what does it mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reality becoming a \u2018trusted\u2019 advisor is all about having the confidence to ask the right questions and be challenging enough so that leadership sense a connection. That they listen and respond to your leadership and respect how you come alongside to support them to make the right decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n