Publishers Weekly
04/04/2016
The premise of this book is that CEOs are lonely and isolated and a peer group can help them connect, network, and accelerate their business problem-solving and decision-making. This may be true, but co-authors Shapiro, a former CEO and current board member, and Bottary, a current v-p of a business peer advisory membership organization, point to no research studies directly on point, and offer up examples that more often involve small business owners than CEOs of major corporations. The book abounds in optimistic observations such as "Being vulnerable is liberating" and "Our peers... hold us accountable." Outside the business sector, examples come from the worlds of sports, non-C-level employees, television comedy, U.S. Navy pilots, and IT research analysts. The book lists five steps as essential to having a successful CEO peer group: selecting peers with the same high standards, establishing an open and non-judgmental atmosphere, finding a good discussion facilitator, fostering meaningful conversation, and living up to expectations of accountability. It makes clear how to create such a group, but isn't clear enough on why CEOs should want to take part. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
“True peer advantage is an experience like no other. The Power of Peers shows you how to achieve it.” – Marshall Goldsmith, #1 NYT best-selling author of Triggers, MOJO and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There
“There is no problem you can’t solve if you have a group of peers watching your back. The Power of Peers makes a powerful case for peer groups and shows how to structure them, allowing any leader to accelerate an organization's scaling up.” – Verne Harnish, founder of Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) and author of Scaling Up
“Shapiro and Bottary know their stuff. Their combined experience plus the examples cited in this book make The Power of Peers a valuable walk-through into the world of what peer organizations can do to improve your leadership and success skills.” – Chris Brogan, CEO Owner Media Group and NYT best-selling co-author of Trust Agents
“The Power of Peers gives voice to a concept that I have long witnessed to be true in business – learning from others who have had similar or related experiences holds incredible value. Business owners are at a disadvantage if they do not have a set of people surrounding them to provide both counsel and support. From my own experience as a co-founder of a company, a journalist, and member of a peer group, I can say that peer advantage is the real deal.” – JJ Ramberg, host of MSNBC's Your Business and co-founder of Goodshop
“In The Power of Peers, Shapiro and Bottary interview dozens of business leaders who tell a similar story to my own—that of seeking out a different kind of help from a group of peers—and in so doing provide a reasonable roadmap to help you learn what you just don’t know.” – Gini Dietrich, CEO of Arment Dietrich and author of Spin Sucks
“The Power of Peers provides a cogent and engaging explanation for why peer advisory groups work. So if you sit at the top of an organization or business and want to continually push your leadership and management performance to new levels, and do it in an environment that is supportive and fun, and yet hard-hitting and pragmatic, read this book.” – Craig Weber, author of Conversational Capacity and recipient of the Vistage Worldwide Speaker Of The Year award
“Peer influence is evident in every stage of our life. Kids follow their friends and mirror their older siblings. Teenagers group together in cliques that walk, talk, and dress alike. As we mature, we grow as individuals, yet our peers remain a powerful force in our lives. We’re all in this together. Whether it pertains to business or physical fitness, the more you surround yourself with peers who hold the same values and share the same goals, the more likely you are to accomplish those goals.” – Jesse Campanaro, CEO Total Gym
“When I started my first business, most, if not all, decisions were mine. Ultimately, the business prospered, but if I had had a trusted peer group to share ideas with, I’m certain we would have been far more successful. With The Power of Peers, Leon Shapiro and Leo Bottary take you on a thoughtful journey that redefines the old adage of “you are known (and far more successful) by the company you keep.” Read this book today and take action tomorrow, or you may look back years from now with just a bit of regret.” – Robert H. Thompson, author of The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable, founder of LeaderInsideOut.com, and host of Robert Thompson’s Thought Grenades radio
