Leadership power: six degrees of differentiation
In second stage, founders are trying to transition from entrepreneur to leader. This is no easy task because leadership is complex and about influencing the behavior of others.
In second stage, founders are trying to transition from entrepreneur to leader. This is no easy task because leadership is complex and about influencing the behavior of others.
“You get real value for your time — it’s an opportunity to get away from your business and work on it instead of in it,” points out Don O’Dwyer.
“It’s great to bounce ideas off other roundtable members and find out what worked for them, what didn’t work — and what they would do differently to avoid pitfalls,” says Jeff Schwegman.
“Even if I haven’t experienced the challenge being presented, it’s something I might confront someday, and I always learn something,” says Jackie Mortell, co-founder of Smart Solutions Inc.
“Peer learning expands the possibility of how you do things,” says Danny Hao. “It gives you a clearer picture in how to run your business moving forward.”
Whether a perceived threat is physical or social, the human brain reacts the same way — which is why smart leaders are paying attention to neuroscience research.
Participating in a PeerSpectives CEO roundtable hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Extension has been instrumental in helping Kayla Storlid scale her business.
No one wants to feel vulnerable or look foolish, and humans can become extremely competent at protecting themselves from perceived threats or embarrassment. Yet defensive behavior can take a real toll on your organization.
Stage 1 business leaders can also benefit from the PeerSpectives methodology. Hear what two graduates of GrowFL’s inaugural Stage 1 roundtable have to say.