I am part of Vistage Worldwide, Inc., and I think it is something more CEOs and business owners should understand.
For anyone not familiar with it, Vistage is a peer advisory group for CEOs, business owners, and executives. It brings leaders together in a confidential setting to talk through real business issues, decisions, opportunities, and challenges.
The value is not that everyone in the room has your exact answer.
The value is that they ask the questions you may not be asking yourself.
As a CEO, it is easy to get buried in your own business. You know the history, the people, the pressure, and all the reasons behind every decision. That experience matters, but sometimes being that close to the business makes it harder to see things clearly.
Having outside perspective from other leaders who understand the weight of the seat, but are not emotionally tied to your company, is extremely valuable.
They challenge assumptions.
They share what has worked and what has not.
They help you step back and look at the business from a different angle.
Running a company can be lonely at times. Vistage creates a room where you can have honest conversations with people who understand that responsibility.
For me, that outside perspective is the real value.
I’m especially thankful for my Vistage Chair, Christine Spray for all of the energy and thought she puts into making sure everyone in our group benefits.