The role of the “consigliere” was immortalized in the cinematic epic, "The Godfather", where Tom Hagen served as the trusted advisor to both Vito and Michael Corleone. But away from the silver screen and deep inside corporate America, the need for a corporate consigliere has never been more pressing.
In today’s volatile, uncertain and complex business landscape, executives face unprecedented challenges and existential threats to their organizations’ survival. Internal political infighting, public & board scrutiny, and the omnipresent threat of litigation make it difficult for leaders to be wholly transparent and vulnerable with their teams as they process strategies to address these challenges. While traditional executive coaching has created a safe space for self-reflection, empathy and relationship management, there is a gap in support for the strategic foresight and tactical execution that is at the core of every leadership role. This is the role filled by the corporate consigliere.
Recently The Wall Street Journal referred to Charlie Munger as “Warren Buffett’s closest friend and consigliere for six decades”. A consigliere serves as a thought partner and sounding board for strategic development and tactical execution. A consigliere is a confidante well-versed in the intricacies of high-stakes decision-making and brings a tactical toolkit to problem solving. That toolkit often looks like a syllabus for an executive education course, including:
· Go-to-market strategy
· Mergers and acquisitions
· Compensation structures
· New product development
· Investor and board relations
· Fundraising strategy
The distinction between a coach and a consigliere is akin to the difference between a therapist and a surgeon. Both are essential to your overall health, but they play distinctly different roles. While a coach, much like a therapist, provides the tools for self-improvement and long-term well-being, a consigliere, like the surgeon, addresses the most pressing need, developing a strategy to ameliorate it and executing a tactical plan with precision. Their backgrounds are different as well. Coaches, while often seasoned executives themselves, receive considerable training in emotional intelligence (EQ) and other management/leadership strategies. The consigliere’s training is honed in strategy, innovation, and operations.
In an age where the right move can propel a company to new heights and the wrong one can lead to a downward spiral into irrelevance, the role of the corporate consigliere is not simply beneficial but necessary. They are the modern-day Tom Hagen’s, guiding today’s executive leaders through the intricacies of corporate survival, ensuring that the family — in this case, the company, not only survives but thrives.
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