What Is A Thought Partner?
A thought partner is a person who is skilled at accompanying a person (or group) as they seek clarity in their life or work. Their job is to understand the subject the "thinker" is considering, understand the values the thinker is operating out of, understand the outcome the thinker desires, and mobilize a variety of communication tools in support of the thinker's process.
Above all, thought partners are committed to the person who is asking a question or seeking clarity, and offer support, safety, powerful questions, accountability, and patient presence for their thinking journey. A good thought partner acts as a catalyst for clarity and confidence for the person in need of answers.
A thought partner working with an individual may help the person consider the pro's and con's of an action. For example, a coaching client of mine was the executive director of a nonprofit in the western U.S. He was faced with a difficult set of problems related to the future programming of the organization. There was a willingness on the part of stakeholders to follow his lead, but his own mind was divided as to the best course to take.
The legacy of the organization's programming was deeply important to he and the group's constituents. At the same time, the old format seemed to be unsustainable and tired. The complexity of emotions, ideas, and potential relational consequences felt like a fog that wouldn't lift. He felt like a compass needle that couldn't find north.
We began a series of conversations over the course of the next month during which I helped him ask tough questions, articulate values, set programmatic priorities, and ultimately land on a direction for the organization that felt grounded and clear. It was in him all along, and as a thought partner, I simply helped him bring it to the surface.
Acting as a thought partner is one of the powerful ways a coach or consultant can serve a client. A person skilled at thought partnership is sometimes cautious, sometimes bold; sometimes gentle, sometimes blunt; sometimes assertive, sometimes quiet. But most of all, they amplify the capacity of their clients, helping them reach clarity and confidence in personal and professional discernment.
