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To Inspire Purposeful Leading

 

Roundtable of Leaders Program

TRANSITIONING LIVES FROM SUCCESS TO SIGNIFICANCE
2010 Program Description and Operation Guide

Program Description

A Roundtable of Leaders is a small group of peer executives who meet regularly to advance their understanding and application of organizational leadership. Our goal is to cultivate effective, ethical leaders who produce better results. Roundtable members help one another by building upon the proverb that says “iron sharpens iron.”

You’ve probably heard of similar groups like YPO (Young Presidents Organization) or the CEO oriented TEC (The Executive Committee) and TAB (The Alternative Board) groups based in various communities around the country. Participants in these programs might join a Roundtable of Leaders because, while they are similar, there are several important distinctions. First, our groups are smaller in size (7-10) creating a more private and confidential environment that gives more personal attention to each member. Secondly, we focus on both leadership development issues as well as providing practical approaches to solving ethical and organizational dilemmas. Lastly, we use a proven methodology called Inside-First™ developed by the Vail Leadership Institute. This framework advocates the integration of head and heart in leading people and organizations.

 

Program Construction

An appointed Chairman in conjunction with a local Roundtable facilitator or leadership coach brings together a small group of non-competing executives who are leaders or rising stars in their organization. While they learn and grow together, members act as trusted advisors on the challenges of being a leader. These peer learning groups jell in an introductory day and a half session that launches the on-going process. The introductory session focuses on an overview of inside-first leadership and builds the foundation for the entire program.

Then, the group meets monthly for half-day gatherings to further develop their own leadership perspectives as well as deal with real world issues within their individual organizations. Approximately half of each monthly session is dedicated to various leadership principles such as purpose, vision, execution, communications, moral reasoning, planning and others. The balance of each session is spent in dialogue on the application of these principles, action arising from previous sessions and specific ethical business challenges being faced by members of the group. Periodically, subject-matter experts may be invited to speak to the group.

In between each monthly meeting, the RoundTable leadership coach meets with each member individually to advance that leaders’ growth. Participants become part of an on-going Leaders Network that provides monthly leadership newsletters, conference calls with nationally recognized “thought-leaders” and access to a growing library of leadership material.

 


Participant Expectations

Ten Roundtable meetings are scheduled over a fiscal year and take place each month excluding May and December. The agenda for each meeting is shown in the Sample Agenda to follow. Essentially, each meeting begins with check-in, followed by a leadership principle discussion. The meeting continues by addressing an individual challenge brought on by the spotlight segment. An Open forum follows, where members share ideas on the topic and suggest solutions. The meeting closure deals with community, current events, and commitment stands for accountability to follow.

Participants are encouraged to get to know all of the members to consider each a resource that may be able to help solve a problem or seize an opportunity in the future. The leadership coach will meet with each participant to follow-up on materials studied in the last session. In addition, each member of the Roundtable is asked to spend time with other members to better get to know them and their sphere of influence.

 

Targeted Participation

  • Presidents, owners and executive officers from companies of all sizes
  • Division presidents of larger companies
  • Senior leadership of non-profits and government agencies
  • Members of the strategic leadership teams of their organizations
  • Leaders who recognize good ideas and the importance of leading form the Inside-First™

 

Roundtable Participant Benefits

Program Benefits:

  • Create an impartial board of advisors
  • Inside-First™ leadership training
  • Create enriching new friendships
  • Implement effective solutions
  • Gain support for tuff decisions
  • Become aware of upcoming trends
  • Developing a clear sense of purpose
  • Recharge your batteries
  • Gain insight into your values and beliefs to improve your ethical decision-making
  • Try new ideas
  • Solve difficult problems
  • Manage change
  • Create a sharp vision for your future providing a roadmap to significance
  • Leave with big ideas
  • Gain clarity about what’s important
  • Grow your organization
  • Develop a network of “go-to” people to help with personal challenges


Leaders Network Benefits:

  • Membership to the Vail Leadership Institute Leaders Network
  • Weekly Journal eMessages
  • Monthly Inside-First™ eNewsletter with book summaries called Leading Perspectives
  • Monthly Insight Conference Calls with authors, scholars and successful leaders.
  • Invitations to periodic Defining Moments gatherings with small groups of members of the Leaders Network to connect with guest speakers and successful leaders
  • A copy of The Keys to Leading by John Horan-Kates
  • Viewpoints, a series of essays by thought-leaders, scholars and exemplary organizational leaders linked to our inside-first™ philosophy.
  • Complimentary copy of the Inside-First Planner© and the Dialogue Guidebook
  • 25% discount on VLI programs
  • Complimentary copy of VLI’s Compendium of Readings