Project Executive Group - Article on Attributes

Article on Attributes

What "attributes" do you look for in someone to become one of your most important
advisors and thinking partner?

Thinking partners are "exponential thinkers" who are able to offer you new
information and new lines of sight.
They explore existing mental models and work with others to challenge and
expand their own mental models.
They are skilled at looking for hidden assumptions, in testing and validating,
and in challenging the status quo.
They are appropriately wary of thinking by analogy.
The best thinking partners have a well-developed ability to think across
parochial boundaries. They have an aptitude for detecting inter-dependencies
and they know how, fundamentally, to see a problem at several different
levels - and have the ability to pick the right level for the best solution.

The capabilities of your inner-circle thinking partners should reach well beyond
categories of expertise, such as finance,global strategy, product development, or
organizational dynamics. In short, here's what you look for. Someone who...

has the ability to see all sides of a complex issue (exponential thinking).
asks great questions and listens closely - including for what isn't said.
doesn't offer advice.
has a reputation for integrity.
can provide unique perspective.
has the ability to tailor content to challenges and questions at hand.
clicks with you intellectually as well as personally.
has high-quality expertise and experience relevant to the key issues you need
to resolve.
has an intuitive understanding of your strengths and meshes well with them.
possesses authentic curiosity and empathy.
is free from conflict of interest, both personal and structural.

It is hard to imagine leaders who would not want to have people like this on their
team. It's powerful, interesting, fun, and a safety net, all at the same time. Beyond
that, it's deeply satisfying to build and sustain these kinds of lifelong leadership
relationships.

Adapted from: The Third Opinion: How Successful Leaders Use Outside Insight to
Create Superior Results - Saj-nicole A. Joni, Ph.D.

Project Executive Group

"The test of an organization is the spirit of performance." - Peter Drucker

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