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Who does the CEO trust most for business advice?

Most business leaders and CEO turn to their husbands and wives for advice - not just support - when running a company.

According to a study from Adecco, 40% of CEOs and business owners said they look to and trust the opinions of their spouse when making big business decisions. 

The president of Adecco Staffing US, Joyce Russell, told Business News Daily that spouses are often the first people business leaders turn to because they hold a "special role".

"You look towards your spouse as the one person that will always have your best interest at heart, and in many cases, the spouse has watched the progression towards the top, so he or she understands the variables at play," she said.

"A spouse can be someone to discuss ideas or decisions off of without judgment or agenda. If you're in a partnership with someone, you hold their thoughts and opinions very highly."

However, she added the spouse's opinion shouldn't be the only one a business leader takes when they reach out for help.

 "A smart leader is someone who can see, hear and understand multiple angles to a challenge."

The study, which was based on surveys of 500 business owners and CEOs living in the US, also found CEOs believe some departments play a bigger role in the overall success of the business than others. More than 40% attribute the financial success of the company to sales staff and customer service staff than any other group. 

This was backed up in the survey by 51% of business leaders stating they are looking to increase headcount in those areas in the coming months.

Image: Shutterstock

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