What a Leadership Advisory Retainer Actually Gives You

The leadership advisory retainer is the service that is hardest to explain to someone who has not used one. It does not produce a report. It does not have a defined end date. It is, in essence, a standing arrangement to have a trusted outside perspective available when you need it. For some founders and CEOs, that is exactly what they are looking for. For others, a project-based engagement is a better fit. The distinction is worth understanding before committing to either.

What the retainer includes ¶

The Future Anchor Hub retainer provides two hours of scheduled time each month with Harry Caldwell, plus the ability to make ad-hoc calls when something comes up that needs a quick conversation. It also includes written input on documents. A board paper, a proposal, a draft strategy. As they arise.

Sessions carry forward if a month is quiet. This matters because the value of the arrangement is not in the hours themselves but in having someone who knows the context of your business available when the context is relevant. A month where nothing significant happens is not a wasted month.

Who it tends to suit ¶

The retainer works best for founders and CEOs who are making a steady stream of significant decisions and who find value in thinking them through with someone who is not part of the organisation. The key word is 'steady.' If the need is for a one-off piece of strategic thinking, a project engagement is more appropriate.

It also suits leaders who have found that the people around them. Whether board members, investors, or senior staff. Have their own interests in the decisions being made, and who want access to someone whose only interest is in the quality of the thinking.

What it does not replace ¶

The retainer is not a substitute for legal, financial, or specialist technical advice. When a question falls into one of those areas, we say so and suggest the appropriate resource. We are also explicit about the limits of our knowledge in specific industries. We bring a strategic and organisational perspective, not sector expertise.

It is also not a coaching arrangement, though the line between strategic advisory and executive coaching can be blurry in practice. The distinction we draw is that coaching focuses primarily on the leader's development; the retainer focuses primarily on the decisions the business needs to make.

The retainer is currently available to a small number of clients. If you are considering whether the arrangement might suit your situation, the most useful next step is a discovery call to discuss it directly.