Business Advisors Are Not All Created Equal
When it comes to hiring a business advisor, there are many things to consider. You want someone who knows business and can help you develop a plan that fits your company’s needs. But how do you know which advisors are right for your business, but more importantly, do you know if you are ready to take this step?
Check out these questions to find out:
- Is what you are doing currently working for you?
This question is important because it starts a discussion about the issue(s) you are trying to solve. This will allow your advisor to understand why you need their help and what your current situation looks like, so they can come up with the best solution for you. Knowing what the problem is makes it easier for an advisor to find a solution.
When asking this question, make sure that you keep these points in mind:
- What is the problem I am trying to solve? Why does it matter?
- What is my current situation? What needs improvement? How does my business look on paper? What are some examples of how far off course things have gone or not gone well enough (see example below)?
- How would things be different if I had achieved my desired outcome instead of where we currently stand (see example below)?
- Are you interested in a different perspective?
One of the most important things you can do when it comes to hiring a business advisor is to know that you don’t always have all the answers. You may be concerned about the cost of hiring someone, but the truth is that it’s much more expensive to continually make mistakes and learn from them later. Having someone who can offer you a different perspective on your business will help you avoid costly mistakes and provide a clearer understanding of where your company stands in relation to its goals.
When speaking with potential advisors, ask yourself: Can they provide a different perspective? If so, then this person could be worth their weight in gold! They’ll challenge your thinking while they give their own input into what’s working and what isn’t working within your business model—allowing for insights that would never have been revealed had you not opened yourself up to having an open mind towards new ideas about how things should change moving forward (even if some of those changes might seem difficult).
- Are you willing to do things in a new way?
There’s no point in hiring a business advisor if you’re not willing to do things differently. It’s not about being stuck in your ways or afraid of change; it’s about having the ability and willingness to try new things that might be uncomfortable at first but will ultimately lead you to success.
After all, if you don’t believe in the advisor or their plan, what’s the point? You need someone who has your best interests at heart and wants nothing more than to see your business succeed. If that isn’t true for your current advisor, then maybe it’s time for a change.
You also need someone who believes in themselves enough that they won’t let anything stand in the way of them helping your business succeed—even if that means breaking old habits or doing things differently than everyone else is doing them right now (which is often key).
- Do you believe in them?
You have to be able to trust your advisor, and this means that you have to believe in their approach. If they’re not someone who you can get behind and believe in, then there’s no point hiring them. It’s important that you speak with the business advisors on a regular basis and feel comfortable around them. When they tell you what they want to do for your business, are there things that make sense? Do they seem like experts? Or maybe they just don’t really understand what it takes to run a business at all—that’s something else worth considering!
- Do they believe in you?
Another thing I find important is the whether they believe in you and your business model. If they don’t believe in your ability to succeed and reach your goals, then how can they help? This is a crucial question because if you don’t believe in yourself, it will be difficult for someone else to believe in you. If a coach has no belief in their client’s abilities, what makes them qualified enough to even be called a business advisor?
If they do have faith that we can reach our respective goals (and I think most of us do), then why should we hire them? What value do they add? Well…
The best way to find out if a business advisor is right for you is by asking the right questions. If they can answer them all and make you feel comfortable in their presence, then they are probably the right person for you. If not, keep looking until you find someone who meets all of your criteria!
