There are many lessons advisors can learn from Queen Elizabeth's habits and traits and incorporate into their daily practices. Bryce Sanders of ThinkAdvisor has compiled nine of Queen Elizabeth's traits and habits to help advisors achieve a high approval rating with their clients.
- Devotion to Duty
Queen Elizabeth stepped into her role as queen in 1952 and reigned for seventy years. Advisors can learn so much from her intention to carry out her responsibilities from the moment she became monarch until the day she died. As an advisor, your clients expect the same level of devotion, knowing your responsibilities and carrying them out with your client's best interests in mind.
- The Client Comes First
Queen Elizabeth considered herself as having a responsibility to her subjects. As an advisor, every client is important, and you are responsible for delivering the attention they deserve.
- Succession Planning is Important
In the royal family, everything must run smoothly. Prince Charles became King Charles immediately after the death of the queen. As an advisor, clients want to know that they are taken care of if an advisor retires or leaves. It is essential to keep your clients informed about what will happen next. Clients want to know who will step into their former advisor's role.
- Focus on the Big Picture
During her reign, Queen Elizabeth avoided micromanaging and employed outreach that demonstrated the importance of the bigger picture to thaw relations between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The client has hired you to help them achieve progress towards their goals. Personalities may not always mesh, but it is important to remember the task at hand.
- Let People Do Their Jobs
Although Elizabeth II was the queen, the U.K. is governed by Parliament directly elected by the people. As queen, she had no direct say in how the country was governed; she could offer advice but not issue orders. Advisors have a similar role. Clients have jobs, beliefs, and families. The advisor advises how best to make decisions in any of these areas; however, the client makes the ultimate decision.
- Always be Gracious
Advisors can learn many lessons from how the Queen conducted herself with grace. In many public appearances, the Queen was faced with someone who might yell an abusive remark. An advisor must remain calm and maintain dignity, even when a client behaves inappropriately.
- Do Not Do Anything You Do Not Want To See as Front-Page News
The Queen led her country by example and served as a good role model avoiding anything that might cause a scandal. Advisors should take note of the Queen's practices and avoid any wrongdoing.
- Always Keep in Touch
During her reign, the Queen spent significant time making public appearances. Like the Queen, advisors need more than an arm's length relationship with their clientele base. Clients should feel they have a personal relationship with an advisor who knows and understands the goals they want to achieve.
- Be Where People Can See You
The Royal Diary allowed U.K. citizens to know when the royal family was out and about doing their jobs. Many clients expect you to be at your desk during business hours. Clients may assume you are on vacation or taking time off when you are away from your desk. Clients need effective communication in cases where you are still working but not behind your desk.
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