The Rea Report Summer 2017 | Page 9

By Don McIntosh, CPA, CEO, [email protected] (New Philadelphia office) enables you to build relationships with others who also understand how lonely it can be at the top. Whenever you need support or advice, you have a solid network of fellow business leaders you can call. The Value Of Executive Coaching Another valuable tool that can really take your leadership competencies to the next level is executive coaching. Will Your Company Still Be Relevant Tomorrow? When was the last time you examined of resources to choose from, but I have your business and the qualities that make personally found involvement in a CEO it relevant in today’s marketplace? If it’s peer group to be extremely valuable. been a while (or never), you run the risk of fading into the sunset while your compe- The Benefits Of A CEO Peer G roup tition steps up to take your place. These CEO peer groups typically consist of days, business owners come face-to-face non-competing business owners from a with many risks, but at the end of the day, variety of industries that meet on a regu- if you’re not willing to step up to be the lar basis. Some benefits of joining a CEO leader your company needs, you will likely peer group include: never find the success you are looking for. • UNBIASED ADVICE. If you join a peer group in the hopes of hearing what you When I took over as CEO of Rea in Janu- want to hear, this group is not for you. ary, I wanted to make sure I set myself This group is a place where your peers (and our firm) up for success. I have great can offer unbiased, truthful advice for relationships within the firm with some of the purposes of helping you overcome the best leaders I’ve ever encountered, challenges and maintain relevancy in but I wanted to expand my network of the marketplace. other CEOs so that I could have easy ac- cess to best practices, strategic discus- • BEST PRACTICES. You’ll learn what sions and the occasional helping hand, has and hasn’t worked for business all of which would help me continue to owners, and other guest speakers, in be the leader our firm needs. I found the a variety of industries. The lessons comradery I was looking for in a CEO you learn could help you strengthen peer group. your business or even avoid a massive When it comes to strengthening your own competencies as a leader, there are lots catastrophe. A business coach is someone who has “been there, done that” and can help hold you accountable in your journey for profes- sional growth. Your coach should be some- one who is well-respected in the executive coaching industry; talk to others in your specific industry to get recommendations. Why You Should Invest Time, Resources Into Leadership Training The future of your business – not just your bottom line – is impacted by the investments you make in your own lead- ership training. Don’t lose sight of or underestimate the lasting impact that to- day’s leadership training can have on the next generation of leaders within your or- ganization. To that end, be sure you are actively coaching and looking for ways to pass along what you learn to younger employees as well. knowledge + WISDom Business Leader Next Generation of Leaders • COMRADERY. A CEO peer group 9