Andy Raynor - Beyond the Brief
Andy Raynor's blog
Can the Mafia be Good for Business?
While you mull over the prospect of sending an order to the boys that results in your most feared competitor spending the next century as part of Brooklyn Bridge, I have to tell you that's not quite what I mean.
But just the other week I was introduced, quite seriously, by a business friend as his “Consigliere”. Everyone needs one, he said.
Well, I thought I was simply his long term adviser.....so I went and looked up what a Consigliere was. And came away flattered, wishing I’d never seen The Godfather and that the word hadn’t been poached so completely.
Here’s what Wikipedia says, taking out all the references to Sicilian messages:
Consigliere (Italian - consigliere - "counsellor") is an adviser or counsellor to the [chief executive], with the additional responsibility of representing the CEO in important meetings both within the business and with other businesses.
The Consigliere is a close, trusted friend and confidant, often an elder statesman. He is devoid of ambition and dispenses disinterested advice.
Aside from a couple of things (Elder? Devoid of ambition? Oi....!), I actually like this definition and yes, I have been, will be, and am proud to be a Consigliere.
In the right places the role is a counterweight of honesty and reality and plain speaking that can make a hell of a contribution to businesses, saying what would otherwise be unsayable.
Just don’t quibble when I ask you to book my nephew for your next big show....
Tell me what you think at andy@andypraynor.com
And see what's been said before by looking in the archive:
© Andy Raynor 2013