LEADERSHIP STRATEGY: GAIN EXPERIENCE (ergo wisdom ) FROM THE SUCCESS AND MISTAKES OF OTHERS
By LSI Publisher Art McNeil
Art is also a Vistage Chair and resource speaker The Value of Vistage – Member’s Video Commentary
My experience with non competing peer groups:
I facilitate a think-tank of non competing CEOs who meet every month, investing an entire day working on (rather than in) each other’s business. Having been together for over eight years, this group realizes that every CEO goes through highs and lows. The primary value of participating in a non-competing peer group is three fold:
- Members have nothing to sell or lose but they gain wisdom quickly because of the intimate sharing of experience—good, bad, and the ugly. Members actively participate in the successes, mistakes and resolution attempts of their fellow members.
- Unlike professional resources such as; accountants, attorneys, insurance brokers, consultants, and internal staff, there are no hidden agendas or unidirectional perspectives. Although most come from a discipline, they have bottom line responsibility.
- Absolute confidentiality—a safe place to ask and answer tough questions with colleagues vetted for their capacity to get value from and add value to the group.
Fifteen sets of “owner eyes” during an assessment of each other’s financial statements, challenging the viability of business models based on evolving realities—rather than wishful or fear-based thinking and drilling down on issues, opportunities, and strategies before decisions are finalized is the cornerstone of wisdom building in the shift-age. Corporate viability and prosperity during recovery can no longer wait on or afford individualized wisdom building.
P.S. I was the founder of Achieve, later aquired by The Times Mirror Corporation and now part of Achieve Global–one of the world’s leading organization, leadership and sales developmant companies. In our finest hour (and there were many) we never matched the sustainable bottom line results produced by my non competing peer groups. Call me if you want more information on membership in a non competing CEO or a KEY Employee group. Telephone (813) 598-7371
