Operators - Is Vistage worthwhile?

searcher profile

October 28, 2020

by a searcher from Harvard University - Harvard Business School in 1970 Walton Dr, Burlington, WA 98233, USA

I have a formal board, an informal board of advisors, and a local manufacturer's network. Is Vistage worthwhile? What other tools are new operators using to improve as leaders/managers?

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commentor profile
Reply by an investor
from University of Nebraska in Austin, TX, USA
Hey Scott. Have some thoughts on EO as I joined last year. Incredible investment thus far. It has two aspects: your forum (digging deep) and city-wide events/networking (social). My wife and I love the social aspects, surrounding ourselves with fun people who live aggressively in both their personal and professional lives.

I wanted a personal and professional outlet that can help me become a better leader, learn from other talented individuals, and share wins/challenges.

The forum###-###-#### person group) really matters and is where most of the organization's value comes from. You are responsible for finding a forum that fits you. When you do find one, you typically have a group of grade A entrepreneurs with big ambitions, egos, and diverse backgrounds/experiences. You have to find a forum that fits you, which can be a struggle for some. I found a group that was hungry, multiple time entrepreneurs, and most had businesses bigger than mine. I felt like each person had something I could learn from = value. You are expected to be completely transparent in both your personal and business life, which breaks down some walls that reveal that we're all human and experience similar issues (just a different context).

Let me know if you have any follow-ups or questions. Big advocate of involvement of any types of groups like this (EO, YPO, and Vistage most well known)
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Reply by a searcher
from The University of Michigan in Las Vegas, NV, USA
^redacted‌I was a member of both EO and Vistage. I had a great experience with EO and a not so great one with Vistage. As ^redacted‌ accurately captured the EO experience, I'll share that I wished for the same for Vistage. I really wanted to like it, as I typically find value in all business interactions. However, I found it to be a waste of time/resources (The money I can recoup, the time none of us can!) The person who led the meetings (The "Chair") needs to be someone that is well vetted, meaning they have to know something about your particular business issues not just the high-level MBA or "I read it in a book" type. After talking a great game, the Chair that I aligned with couldn't deliver. My group members were similarly "in it for themselves" and while they'd tip a glass at the drop of a hat, there was always an underlying lack of trust issue that permeated the group dynamic. I outreached to the Vistage corporate offices to inquire about switching groups (this wasn't the only group in my city), but was politely provided no assistance. If you believe in getting value for what you pay for like I do, I wouldn't have done anything with Vistage. I'm happy to further discuss offline if you'd like. Sam
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