Few leaders know how to make the most of the advice which they receive, according to Don Ciampa in his book, Taking Advice: How Leaders Get Good Counsel and Use It Wisely. It’s an unusual topic for a book on leadership, but it addresses an issue which should be of interest to all good leaders. As Proverbs 15:22 says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (NIV)
Through numerous illustrations and scenarios, the book illustrates how good leaders fail as advice takers, some fundamental principles of advice taking, the differences between strategic, operational, political and personal advice, and the differences between expert, experienced, sounding-board and partner advisers. Towards the end of the book the author concludes that there are three specific success factors for unlocking the full potential of advice:
- Find and use the right advisers before you need them.
- Give your advisers access to your schedule and to your thinking.
- Take on the responsibilities that are yours alone. Don’t expect your advisers to do what only you can do.
Whilst I did not find the book to be the amongst the most compelling books on leadership and organisational management that I have read, I thought that it did a reasonable job of covering one specific area which is not often considered sufficiently – the area of choosing and using advisers well – and for that reason I recommend it.