While reaching the C-suite is often seen as a Holy Grail, once there the isolation inherent in the top job can come as a shock. Enter the CEO whisperer
Though many might remember him as an infomercial pitchman, over the last decade Tony Robbins has fully transformed himself into a boutique coach, a Rasputin for the one per cent — a so-called CEO whisperer.
“He counts billionaires such as Virgin’s Richard Branson and gaming magnate Steve Wynn among his friends,” reads a profile in Fortune. “Robbins’ knack for combining pragmatic analysis with empathy has turned him into a modern-day consigliere to the C-suite.”
As Robbins pioneered the job, it has gone mainstream, and CEOs everywhere are increasingly turning to executive advisory services ― like Robbins, but not necessarily as high profile ― to call upon in tough times.
It is now commonplace to hear about CEOs surrounding themselves, if not with internal trusted advisors, with coaches who, by and large, claim some special knack for bringing the best ideas out of people, motivating them, or just being a helpful crutch.
“Today’s best CEO whisperers practice what Sehr Thadhani calls ‘executive world building’ ― they leverage industry and cultural conversations to create a bespoke ecosystem that’s designed to equip executives with the access, influence and intelligence they need to realize their goals,” states Silicon Foundry, an innovation advisory firm, sort of a tech-focused cousin industry to CEO whispering.
“Whisperers don’t need to come from an elite business or educational background in order to be successful. What matters most is finding a whisperer who’s thoughtful, savvy and plugged in.”
Executives who use these kinds of services successfully generally say it helps them escape their own echo chamber which often exists at the top of the company. It also helps when the advisors bring in a different background and different experiences ― all of which can help expand the view of an executive.
“Crises and firefighting are all in a day’s work for the average CEO. So too is the receipt of professional advice,” writes the Financial Times’ Oliver Balch. “Yet finding a confidant is not always easy. Who is that person the boss can be certain has their back? Who is always there to act as a sounding board when times are tough? And who can hold up a mirror and ask the questions that no one else will?”
Content written by Kieran Delamont for Worklife, a partnership between Ahria Consulting and London Inc. To view this content in newsletter form, click here.