Today I want to tell you about a CEO mentorship system that I discovered last year and that is, without a doubt, the most complete, coherent, and transcendent I have found for fostering both business and personal growth.
Background
A few months ago, a client-friend, who had sold his successful systems company, invited me to give a workshop on positive intelligence to a group of 15 CEOs he was mentoring through a methodology called «Vistage.» He mentioned that after completing his cycle as owner and CEO, he had decided to reinvent himself, and this new experience as a «Chair» was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Being able to help new CEOs grow in a healthy way gave a new and transcendental meaning to this stage of his life.
While leading the workshop, I immersed myself in an executive mentorship model that captivated me: an intelligent, coherent, and profoundly human methodology. Upon leaving, I set out to learn more about this little-known gem and to consider becoming a part of it.
It turns out that 65 years ago, Bob Nourse observed that company presidents in Milwaukee faced many of the same difficult decisions on their path to personal and professional excellence. This observation led him to bring together business leaders with similar challenges to work together within a framework of trust. Today, Vistage has a community of over 45,000 members worldwide who remain in their groups for at least five years. Why? According to a study by Dun & Bradstreet, companies of Vistage members grow 2.2 times faster than the average of similar companies.
When analyzing the methodology, I believe it all comes down to putting the human being at the center of the equation. Let me share a bit more with you about that.
The methodology consists of three parts:
It all starts with a group:
At the heart of the Vistage experience is confidential peer advisory. Once a month, members gather to work on their businesses in groups of 12 to 16 non-competing business leaders. They help each other find solutions to their biggest business and personal challenges.
A CEO with experience
An executive mentor (Chair) facilitates group meetings using a proven model to address key topics and maintain focus.
Personalized 1-on-1 Consulting
In addition, the Chair meets monthly with each member individually (1-on-1) in an executive coaching session, to delve deeper into each topic and conduct thorough follow-up.
Another important aspect is that the model is complemented by top-tier speakers and events. Throughout the year, 8 workshops are held during group meetings, led by expert speakers, such as the one I gave. Furthermore, there are all sorts of events, webinars, and studies, as well as access to a vast community of peers around the world.
In conclusion:
Throughout the years, I've encountered various models that integrate peer advice, and I love them all because community principles are undoubtedly vital for business growth and social development. However, what I saw in Vistage, which helps prevent group dynamics from degrading into simply a social club, is the role of the Chair who injects order into the meetings and works one-on-one with each member on critical topics for their personal and business success.
Finally, if I had to point out what I liked most about the Vistage model, it would be its emphasis on putting the human being at the center of the equation and challenging the CEO to embrace their greatness to become a transcendent leader. Undoubtedly, the secret ingredient is providing the leader with a space of trust, guided by an experienced Chair, where she or he can be vulnerable among peers. And the result, as the D&B numbers indicate, is that this model favors driving personal and business growth together, achieving transcendent results.
If you're interested in learning more about Vistage, please contact me. I'm in the process of becoming a Chair.