Business owners need four supports to succeed:
- A business operating system to get you growth, peace of mind, and freedom.
- A peer group in which you can test ideas, gain perspective, and improve decision making.
- An executive coach to help you develop as a leader in your business and family.
- A mental health counselor/therapist, because #mentalhealthmatters.
You’ve got #1 and #3 if you’re working with me. Now let’s talk about peer groups.
[Peer groups] consist of other business leaders, like yourself, who can help problem solve issues and test ideas from their vantage points of similar roles, industries, or business sizes. Some leaders may have more experience than you; some may have less. The power of the group input, from varying perspectives, gives you traction to resolve issues, gain new ideas, and leverage the wisdom of their collective experience.
Jonathan B. Smith, authorOptimize for Growth: How to Scale Up Your Business, Your Network, and You
Peer groups make your growth curve jump up. You have a wealth of great options. Here are some of my favorites, in alphabetical order.
C12 Business Forums
For nearly three decades, C12’s singular focus has been to create a framework that gathers, compels, and equips Christian business leaders to achieve excellence through the power of peers. Together, C12 members dig into challenges, seize opportunities, and develop strategic plans—for both prosperous and adverse seasons. The stakes are high. But without margin, the mission stands still.
C12 isn’t simply a business bible study or a Christian business networking group. It’s an architected environment for transformation. C12 helps CEOs and executives calibrate the entirety of their businesses through the signature 5-Point Alignment Matrix: continually evaluating and aligning growth strategies, financial stewardship, cultural development, and operations within a framework of business as a ministry (BaaM). The rigorous, interactive curriculum empowers C12 Members to dive headfirst into the challenges and opportunities of today’s marketplace.
In Lincoln, contact Matt Allmand at (308) 991-5619 or matt.allmand@c12forums.com.
In Omaha, contact Steve Getzfrid at (402) 350-8888 or steve.getzfrid@c12forums.com.
Convene
Convene is a gathering of Christian CEOs and business owners helping each other build better businesses, increase leadership success, and honor God.
In Omaha, contact Scott Gray, (402) 740-7427 or scott.gray@convenenow.com.
Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)
Entrepreneurs' Organization is a high-quality support network of 16,000+ diverse business leaders from more than 70 countries. We help entrepreneurs achieve their full potential through the power of life-enhancing connections, shared experiences and collaborative learning.
Strategic Coach
Strategic Coach is distinct because you get:
- An entrepreneur-focused curriculum the founder’s been developing for 45+ years. (It’s different from Convene and Vistage in that Convene and Vistage’s membership also includes public company and nonprofit executives; Strategic Coach is more focused on entrepreneur-founded, privately held companies.)
- Peer group meetings and in-person coaching support:
- Quarterly, in person, at one of four locations: Chicago, Dallas, London, or Toronto, OR
- Remotely, every other month, from anywhere on the planet
- A national network (most of your peers won’t be from the area around your home).
I was a remote member for two years and still use the tools daily.
Vistage
Vistage is for small and midsize businesses with $1 million to $1 billion in revenue.
Vistage is distinct because you get:
- A peer group and an executive coach in one investment.
- A locally focused network (most of your peers will be from the area around your home).
- Big-name speakers: Vistage has the weight to regularly pull in bestselling authors like Brene Brown, Jim Collins, and Patrick Lencioni.
In Omaha, contact Janet Walker, (402) 669-7790 or janet.walker@vistagechair.com.
In Lincoln, contact Michael Edwards, (402) 770-1021 or michael.edwards@vistagechair.com.
Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO)
Similar to EO, but you don’t have to be the founder of the business—simply its top leader. And under 45 years old.
More Options:
There are a ton out there:
- The Alternative Board (TAB): Similar to Vistage.
- C12: For Christian executives.
- The CFO Leadership Council: The premier community of senior finance leaders.
- CHIEF: Chief is the only private membership network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders.
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