One universal truism is that people like to do business with experts. They like to do business with people they like, and they like to do business with experts. If you’re lucky, sometime you get both at the same time.
One of the benefits of partnering with an expert is that you can learn from them. They know more than you (since they’re the expert). You’re the expert in your business, not theirs.
But part of you wants to be sure that what they’re telling you is legit, since it’s your money and your reputation that ultimately is riding on it.
A legitimate partner is going to buy into an education-based approach when they’re doing business with you. They should be willing to explain to you, in as much detail as you want, what’s going on, what the problem is, why it’s a problem, why it needs to be dealt with, and why their recommendations for action are the best thing to do.
Dealing with someone like this, who’s willing and able to explain the value of what they’re doing, will give you confidence that you’re doing the right thing and that you’ve made the right choices.
Also important is the need for them to manage expectations properly. Yes, everyone wants to appear like they’re a cut above the rest. But if that means exaggerating the benefits of what they’re doing, you don’t want to be involved in that.
A partner who can not only explain what they’re doing, but also communicate its proper limitations - that’s someone you want to trust your business with.