Subject areaProcess and organisation
Also known asadviser
An advisor is the external, independent figure who supports decision makers with their expertise and experience without taking their place: they propose, challenge and clarify options, and leave the person who decides ownership of the final choice.
There are strategic, financial, M&A and digital transformation advisors.
An advisor's value lies in neutrality. People inside the company carry its culture and internal balances; an external counsellor with no stake in the outcome can break a stalemate and bring out what goes unsaid internally. This is why an advisor differs from a vendor selling a solution, and advisory coaching (one-to-one support for the person who decides) is one of the forms this role takes.
An example
The executive committee of a machinery manufacturer has been debating for months whether to adopt a new sales model, without reaching a choice. An external advisor with no stake in the outcome lays out the options with their risks and leads the committee to decide by a set date.
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Enrico Giubertoni. Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0: you may quote, translate and adapt this entry with the author’s name and a link, stating any changes. For commercial use, write to info@enricogiubertoni.com
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