Can you name your team of trusted advisors? (135-2)

Wise leaders create an environment where advisors are encouraged to give their input and feel free to enter into dialog even when their counsel is unpopular. Read Proverbs 11:14.

Effective leaders legitimize, encourage and utilize trusted advisors as they make decisions. These advisors add value to the leadership of the organization. This “inner circle” of counselors is so important that according to verse 14 without them a nation (business/ministry) will fail and with them victory is sure.

Jim Collins in his book Good to Great categorizes leaders into five levels of leadership with one being the lowest level of leader and five being a leader that can lead an organization from good to great. It is interesting that it is the Level 1 leader that is highly capable and makes tremendous contributions through talent, skills and good work habits and it is the Level 5 leader who builds enduring greatness through a blend of personal humility, professional will and utilizing advisors and counselors according to Proverbs 11:14.

My mom had a thousand pithy sayings and one that made a lasting impact on me was, “It is amazing how much can get done if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” Effective leaders surround themselves with trusted advisors and are willing to share the spotlight giving proper credit to the right person when it is due. This doesn’t mean that effective leaders don’t have an ego, self-interest or ambition but it does mean their ambition is first for their team and organization, not themselves.

Can you name your team of trusted advisors? Do you have an environment that regularly brings them together as direction is charted and decisions are made? Do you have a system of making decisions that involves this group rather you simply hearing what they have to say and then making the decision based on your personal desires? Do you have a system in place that makes your decisions accountable to your advisor team both in victory and blunder? What would be different if you were striving to be a Level 5 leader?