Can You Articulate Why You and Your Team Exist?

Advisors, how many times have you heard that clients don’t really understand the value you provide?

I hear this concern on a continual basis from advisory teams. They don’t believe their client base really understands the full spectrum of what is being done for them and the level of expertise they have at their disposal.

My reply? “What have you done to help bring clarity to your clients about your why, how and what story”? Most often I either hear crickets on the other end of the telephone or get a blank stare with a slight gaping mouth.

In Simon Sinek’s book, “ Start with Why ” he shares that to inspire others you must start with your passion, your reason for getting out of bed in the morning and why that should matter to anyone else. “When you communicate your purpose or cause first, you communicate in a way that drives decision-making and behavior. It literally taps the part of the brain that inspires behavior.”

In his famous TED talk as above, Sinek succinctly outlines the key elements of his powerful philosophy.

This clarity creates a cultural shift throughout the business from the top down; to each team member, every product and service, every piece of marketing and every experience and interaction you have within your network.

To define and develop your “why”, consider these examples:

Why:

To live with intention

To honor relationships

To respect our collective stewardship

To nurture dreams and aspirations for future

To be the catalyst for positive change

To impact both professional and personal lives

To care for our exclusive family of clients

How:

Act as an external change agent providing a critical eye towards measurement, analysis, and improvement

Define a clear path for others by helping people be prepared with a plan to navigate life’s inevitable ebbs and flows

Put our clients’ interests first in all situations and honoring the fiduciary standard of care

Serve as your trusted advisor to you and your family for decades and generations not just calendar years

What:

Wealth Management

Investment Management

Financial Planning

Flexible Retirement Strategies

What’s Next?

Take action. Come together as a team to have valuable dialogue and collaborate about your why, how and what. Look from the outside in from a client perspective and develop your cultural story that is beyond a bullet point or elevator speech.

Once you have the clarity around your advisory firm’s passions, you’ll inspire your prospects, clients and centers of influence. And those become the champions of your cause, all by sharing your why.