Becoming a Trusted Advisor Requires Becoming A Data-Driven Communicator

Ever had someone describe your PR “win” as a spectacular diving catch?

It sounds complimentary—until you realize it means you’re not seen as a trusted advisor.

When the stakes are high and urgent messages need to land perfectly, comms leaders get called in.

Our role often involves guiding people who might be older, have more experience, and hold the power to hire or fire.

Earning their trust is a skill that blends art (experience, intuition) with science (data-driven decision-making).

But what happens when experience alone isn’t enough—like when dealing with new regulations or platforms you’ve never encountered before?

That’s when data becomes your strategic advantage.

You’ll never have 100% certainty—Amazon’s Jeff Bezos famously cites making decisions with about 70% of the data.

That balance of risk and agility defines modern leadership.

Yet many leaders scramble for every last piece of information, slowing the process and missing key windows of opportunity.

Being a trusted advisor today is about confidently using data to fill the gaps in experience.

Gather what you need, trust your instincts for the rest, and show your leadership team you’re prepared—no diving catches required.

Tell me what you think? How do you close the gap? What strategies do you recommend for providing trusted advice to senior leadership?