“Who ya gonna call?”

When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them
—Psalms 91:15 NLT

“Who can I call?”
“Who can I ask?”
“Who knows how to go about this?”

Questions we face almost every day. Where do you turn when the challenges are in your face, the opportunity is knocking, or the problems seem insurmountable? “Who ya gonna call?” was the refrain in the move Ghostbusters but your daily life is much more than a movie and the issues you face are much more important. But still the question remains…“Who ya gonna call?”

One thing I have learned well in life is the value of asking for counsel or help! I used to think I had to have all the answers, but wisdom knows when to ask for advice or help. I am reminded of this in the counsel from the Bible:

Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success. — Proverbs 15:22

The joy of asking for advice or help is that you find the blessing of developing a “go-to-person,” one with whom you connect, trust, and communicate well and with whom you find both courage and counsel. In fact you can probably list a couple of names right now if I asked you.


So I’m going to ask you to write down a name or two of your “go-to-people.”

An article about “go-to-people” from my business school in Canada caught my eye:

Every organization has these so called go-to people. Surprisingly, they are not necessarily the people who hold the highest positions or are in the most powerful departments. They are the individuals who, through their own professional roles combined with their personality and communication abilities, know what's going on and share that information with those who need it. These individuals have access to information and organizational knowledge, understand the implications of that information, provide opportunities for sharing that information, and ultimately improve decision making and efficiencies in the organization.

• They know how their organizations work and how to work their organizations.

• They are politically astute without being corporate politicians.

• They know how to use power when it’s needed but seldom use it, preferring to influence and persuade others to get-with-the-program

• They are consummate negotiators but getting it done is non-negotiable.

• They use networks of reciprocation rather than deals.

• They think out of the box while acting inside the box.

• They are analytical and intuitive, aggressive and patient, confident and humble, deliberate and decisive. 

"Go-To People: What Every Organization Should Have," by Jeffrey Gandz (Ivey Business Journal March/April 2007)

Let’s face it; life would be pretty tough without “go-to people.” In fact it might become overwhelming if we try to face it all alone. You might be inclined to think of these folk as being answers to a prayer, or even a blessing from God.

You have written down the names of some of your “go-to-people.” I am asking you now to make sure to take time today to let them know how much you appreciate them, their counsel, help or listening ear. Call them today, make an appointment to share, send them a card, do something to remind them and yourself that you are grateful for the gifts they bring to your world.

Right now you are getting ready to care for a patient, counsel a family or an associate. You are their “go-to-person.” Don’t let them down!