The Best Leaders Have Them

Too Many Leaders Subscribe to the “Old School” Principle That Having a Mentor or Coach is a Sign That They Are Not Enough. In Reality, the Best Leaders Liberally Use Coaches. Now, they may be quiet about it, still subscribing to the old school fear, but over half of large company CEOs and senior executives are either using an executive coach or have used them in their career. Personally, I have coached scores of CEOs of companies of all sizes and, to a person, they say it’s the best thing they have done in their leadership role. Conversely, when I was in a CEO role, I used coaches liberally.

In Addition to Engaging in a Formal Executive Coaching Program, the Best Leaders Have Mentor Support. Formal or informal, they have a community of trusted advisors they regularly consult with.

·      Formal. I strongly recommend the Young Presidents Organization (“YPO”) and Vistage. These national peer support organizations, with local 12- to 15-person groups, are powerfully effective in assisting CEOs optimize their performance. And there are often excellent regional organizations, such as the Alliance of CEOs in the San Francisco Bay Area, that perform the same peer support role. They are expensive, but worth a healthy multiple of their dues.

·      Informal. I also recommend building and maintaining a small network of mentors that you can call upon for advice and counsel in challenging situations. Some people you meet and work with just seem to fall into the mentor role naturally. Sometimes, though, you need to work with more intention. Identify people you know, like, and trust – ones who seem to like and trust you and seem open to a more expansive relationship – and call on them on occasion. I have found that many successful businesspeople enjoy the opportunity to share their wisdom and help another.

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