Who’s in Your Fave Five?

Do you remember the old T-Mobile commercials that promoted myFaves, the program that offered unlimited calling to the top five people in your network? It sparked conversation between friends and families when the time came to determine who would secure a place in the coveted top five.
Dare I ask — were you ‘Fave Five’ worthy?
Over the course of my career, I have been fortunate to build an extraordinary support system of friends, confidants, and advisors — a ‘Fave Five’, and then some. These are people from all over the world, who I have known at different times, in different contexts, and who represent different and diverse perspectives. Whether I met them in a personal or professional capacity, they are willing to be honest with me. They’re who I turn to for advice, and their wisdom and insights have helped me with many important decisions and dilemmas I have faced over the years. From debating career moves to introductions to potential customers or figuring out how to manage a controversy, my close friends have always been there to help me along the way.
In the corporate world, your ‘Fave Five’ might take on a more established advising role, like an advisory council or a board of directors. I feel incredibly privileged to be a part of such boards at Raytheon, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and of course, HARMAN. At our monthly board meetings, we gather as a team to discuss a number of big ideas, talk about the competitive landscape, and think about how we will stay one step ahead of the market. HARMAN also recently established an advisory council for HARMAN X, our innovation task force, comprised of outside thought leaders who help promote technological innovation and leadership.
In either case — a close circle of friends or a trusted board of directors — surrounding yourself with smart, honest people is enormously valuable, especially in combating confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is the tendency to interpret new information as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs or theories. If you think one of your coworkers is a jerk, you’ll fixate on minor transgressions in order to support your point, e.g. “Their desk is messy. They’re a jerk!” You’ll also tend to reach out to someone to commiserate with. And if you’re thinking about buying something you know you don’t truly need, you’ll find the person in your life who you know will say, “Go for it. You only live once!”
That advice might be what we want to hear and make us feel good, but in serious situations, it’s not what we need. What’s most helpful is reaching out to the individuals who will help you evaluate the many sides of an issue and who will be thinking about what’s best for you. We all agree that listening to music in stereo is better than mono, and the same goes for how you evaluate ideas and how you think about the decisions ahead of you. Considering diverse perspectives will lead to better results.
Think about how you approach your work. When you want to pitch an idea to senior management, listen in stereo — that is, talk to idea supporters and detractors. Don’t fall victim to confirmation bias. Ultimately, your presentations will be that much more convincing. The world is a big place, and we must hear all sides and answer questions from the toughest skeptics.
Both giving and receiving advice are signs of strength and marks of great leadership. That’s how we help others improve, and how we improve ourselves. The Harvard Business Review recently published an article that observed a common trait among exceptional leaders — their propensity to be teachers:
“They routinely spent time in the trenches with employees, passing on technical skills, general tactics, business principles and life lessons. Their teaching was informal and organic, flowing out of the tasks at hand. And it had an unmistakable impact: their teams and organizations were some of the highest-performing in their sectors.”
So, who’s on your ‘Fave Five’ list? Like a real board, is it diverse? Is it inclusive? On the other hand, whose list are you on? Whether you have an unlimited plan or not, call on your ‘Fave Five’ as much as you can. Get their advice, their council, and most importantly their perspective.
I promise it’s the best deal out there.
