The Sense Makers

In a recent Bnet article at http://blogs.bnet.com/management/?p=1664&tag=nl.e713 Margaret Heffernan argues that CEO’s need a “third opinion”. CEO’s have advice from their teams (first opinion) and their advisors (second opinion), each of whom look at the question from their specific perspective.  The CEO then has a job to reconcile the multiple opinions which, in this turbulent world, puts even greater pressure on leaders to make sense of events around them.

Heffernan suggests that CEO’s benefit from a ‘peer review’ of fellow CEO’s who bring their thought processes to bear on the opportunity.  What is really important is the unemotional dissection of the opportunity by the peer group.  They neither own the opportunity nor the outcome.

However, to contuinue as a peer group member, trust is a critical factor.  Even though the peer group does not own the outcome, to earn trust means bringing the full weight of thought, skills and experience to bear on the issue raised by the group member.  Individual sugestions may be well off the mark but this is irrelevant if the suggestion is made with intent to contribute with integrity by bringing your full measure of wits, skill and energy  to the conversation.

Groups like TEC -The Executive Committee (Vistage in the USA) and YPO – Young Presidents Organisation are built on this trust.  TEC is facilitated by experienced business people and is more formal in its approach to executive learning and business issue processing.  YPO provides a more unstructured environment and open network at your option.

Whichever your choice, make a choice and benefit from your peers: build trust by open commmunication, direct feedback and constructive ideas.  Remember that you will be expected to turn your mind to issues you feel are not relevant to you and your organisation.  Two important outcomes are likely:

1. You realise that issues are creeping up on you, waiting to ambush your plans at really awkward moments or
2. You find you can use approaches in one industry which, when modified and transplanted into yours, gains you a short-term competitive advantage.

Take the decision; join a formal multi-industry groups like TEC and YPO and participate fully.