When someone asks me WHY Vistage is the best place for them, there are a lot of ways I can answer. But honestly, it’s not my reason that matters. Each leader should know what they are looking for, or at least accept that they don’t know what they don’t know. So what I can answer is WHO seems to really appreciate the value of the membership and sticks around a long time. Then it’s up to the individual to know themselves.
It’s probably not who you think.
Successful members don’t normally join when they’ve hit hard times, or have lost their way. On the contrary, it’s a good CEO who wants to be GREAT, who shows up ready to contribute and listen. It’s a GREAT leader who asks how he or she can build up their team and let go of the details. And THEN, when there is a downturn or a bump in the road, it’s the BEST of business owners who realizes this is the group they can’t give up now, because they really can benefit from peer support when the challenges start piling up.
But this is just one answer. An essential part of the Vistage experience is the wealth of knowledge at our fingertips as Chairs. We can find resources and experts to help our members. And with that… I share with you a list of ideas on GREAT CEOs from other Vistage chairs and members. Plus, there are always video testimonials from other members.
Are You A Great CEO? What Do You Think?, by Mary Lore
Three Distinct Advantages of Vistage, by Pete Hayes
Optimisim is a Great Motivator, by Vince Langley
Failure is Your Friend, by Cheryl McMillan
Published by edstillman
I grew up in Carlsbad, north San Diego County, lost my dad as a teenager, went into the USAF for four years and hired on with 3M in 1969. Received my AA from Santa Barbara City College, BA and Masters from Redlands University and after 33 plus years, I retired from 3M in 2002. As I look back on my life, I have been creating myself and developing my skill sets to be a business coach and a Vistage Chair. I am president of SEOT, a "personal improvement" consulting firm spending most of my time working with Central Texas executives running small to medium size for-profit companies who are focusing on improving their profitability greater than their competition. My area of interest is assisting senior executives in creating a better balance between business commitments and personal relationships. I also facilatate three leadership labs each consisting of a dozen owners, presidents and CEOs. We meet monthly both in a group setting as well as in a 1-to-1 coaching session. Our focus is to sharpen each others' skills in becoming better leaders, making better decisions and taking ourselves and companies to that next level.
Who are we? My members are experienced top executives who recognize that they don’t have all the answers and who actively seek the company of successful peers—both to give and receive insights and ideas. My members mine the 200 plus years of chief executive experience that comes together in our monthly meetings and members are eager to offer their own experience and insights in the process.
As a group, we spend our time exploring topics members can't discuss anywhere else. My members have many other places where they can engage in idle, "cocktail party" chatter. Our mission is to provide the setting for discussing the "undiscussable."
Where or who can you go to for confidential, honest feedback to assist you in minimizing your personal "Worry List"?
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Austin Vistage | Ed Stillman 