What is Vistage?
As a Vistage Chair, I work with CEOs, business owners and other top executives to help them become better leaders, make better decisions and achieve better results.
In our program of ongoing personal and professional development, my role is to facilitate the group meetings, conduct executive coaching sessions, and select members for Vistage groups. We help members achieve their dreams.
December brought positive news about the future of small business with overall confidence rising to its highest level since the pandemic began. The WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Confidence Index reached 93.6 in December, doubling the 44.7 recorded in April. However, there is much room for improvement as this reading is still well below February’s peak of 105.7.
Small businesses are increasingly optimistic and seeing signs of recovery for their business in terms of stable revenue projections in the year ahead, however these signs of life are not yet evidenced in their sentiment about the economy today. Small businesses maintain a cautious view; three-quarters indicate the U.S. economy has worsened compared to a year ago and just 8% thought it improved, on par with economic sentiment recorded in November.
Leadership Books
The best leadership books chosen by Vistage members and Chairs. The key to great leadership is excellent communication. So, it is little wonder that the best leadership books are concise, engaging and easy to follow. From irreverent sendups of common failures to painstaking dissections of the human condition, the following leadership books offer actionable insights to help helm a company, or a leadership team, to success.
Vistage CEO members and executive coaches have recommended many of these titles to their peers for deeper insights, strategies and inspiration to tote along the challenging and rewarding leadership journey.
Start with Why
by Simon Sinek
START WITH WHY shows that the leaders who've had the greatest influence in the world all think, act, and communicate the same way -- and it's the opposite of what everyone else does. Sinek calls this powerful idea The Golden Circle, and it provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY.
Radical Candor
by Kim Scott
Radical Candor offers a guide to those bewildered or exhausted by management, written for bosses and those who manage bosses. Taken from years of the author's experience, and distilled clearly giving actionable lessons to the listener; it shows managers how to be successful while retaining their humanity, finding meaning in their job, and creating an environment where people both love their work and their colleagues.
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business
by Gino Wickman
A recognized leader in building successful leadership teams, Gino Wickman lays out the six key components of growing and strengthening businesses. “Traction” provides the toolbox leadership teams can use to eliminate frustration and friction and create a company-wide culture of engagement in which all team members are dedicated to a company’s mission and success.