Advisors enhance people’s success journey.
Advisors come in all shapes and sizes.
Many owners and managers manage by ‘gut’ feeling, which can cause unnecessary problems, frustrations and stress. Statistics show that up to 80% of business failures could have been avoided if they had used advisors. Why would you be any different?
Traditionally, we looked to accountants, solicitors, and specialist advisors to provide services to assist in profitable growth and sustainability. Unfortunately, they were usually too expensive. Many were concerned more with tax avoidance, government regulations, and their self-interests, with little concern for start-ups and the growth and development of their clients. Start-ups were more nuisance than they were worth.
Finding advisors with sufficient practical experience and a cost structure to suit regional, rural, and remote areas was particularly challenging. However, new information technology and communications are improving these areas’ situation.
In the 2000s, with the emergence of the Internet and global competition, old ways started to change. Today’s business has become more sophisticated and can be too hard to do alone unless you have the right advice to guide you.
Many advisors today know how to implement successful plans and strategies from start-ups to mature organisations with minimal costs. They realise that little organisations grow if they are looked after during the start-up phase; they will be the right clients for life.
Business advisors generally fit into several quite distinct categories.
- Facilitator. A facilitator is experienced in specific processes, such as planning, relationships, health, and so on; they facilitate ideas and opportunities for individuals and organisations.
- Coaches. They can best be summarised as general practitioners. They have good practical experience running a business and act much like coaches in a sporting team.
- Mentor. Where an experienced person is assigned to an inexperienced person and assists in training or providing a general support role. Mentoring is about dealing with individuals to guide them with their problems.
- Advisors have well-developed skills in one or two specific areas: marketing, human resources, accounting, law, finance, workplace health and safety, construction, engineering, etc. They can best be summarised as specialist practitioners.
- Broker. A broker is an individual or party (brokerage firm) that arranges transactions between a buyer and seller and gets a commission when the deal is executed. Examples include finance brokers, business brokers, and real estate brokers.
- Counsellor. Counselling is a highly specialised helping process used by professionally trained and certified counsellors. It involves working with people individually or in small groups. These specialists are often used for personal and family relationships and health problems.
Quotable Quotes
“Before you spend a penny on engaging an advisor, ask yourself if you’re ready, willing and able to listen to the person you engage”. Peter Sergeant
“Advisors and facilitators can make things easier, more profitable, sustainable and fun”. Peter Sergeant