Ever wondered whether executive peer support can be of value to you? Here at LeaderBridge, we believe executive peer support provides unique value beyond other coaching methods in the following ways:

• Provides a strong support system for leadership development
• Creates innovative solutions through questioning and discovery
• Helps broaden understanding of functions and organizational business issues
• Enhances leadership skills 

Peer support can take place one-on-one, of course, but peer support also provides great value in group settings, particularly with an anonymous structure that supports open discussion, sharing of ideas and experiences, and focusing on actions to be implemented.

Peer support for leadership development

Progressively more organizations realize the power that coaching has in enhancing a leader’s development. But not many have taken on board the power of peer-support from external leaders. Here are some ways in which external executive leaders can offer peer support when provided with a safe space to do so:

1. They can teach other leaders how to scale their business

One of the hardest parts of running a business is understanding how to scale. If a business not growing at the right pace, it can often end up failing. By gaining access to a larger pool of experienced executive leaders, you can find external peers who have been through similar processes and can guide you on what to do and what to avoid, improving the chances of being able to scale your business successfully.

2. External leaders can help with honest feedback

Sometimes, leaders need tough love to understand their shortages. Seeking feedback from like-minded peers is a great way to grow. Understanding areas where you may need to improve is a sound trait of a great leader. External peers can be a source of honest feedback, should you wish to seek such support from them. 

3. You can be held accountable

Not only can other leaders offer advice and support, but they can help by holding you accountable by understanding your vision and the execution of your proposed strategy. This is often more apparent in a one-on-one intimate scenario, after building a relationship with another leader who has shared interests. 

4. Offering personal support

All leaders are human beings with lives outside of their organization. As such, we face all sorts of personal life matters. Maybe you are a leader growing a business, whilst going through a divorce. Or you are leading a large organization, but you are also struggling with family matters that are taking up more time than usual. Often, it is frowned upon to bring up personal matters in the office.  External peers, therefore, can provide an outlet and the support you may need during difficult times. 

5. The larger the community of leaders, the better the chance of having your problems addressed

Having access to several directors, CEOs, or Vice Presidents, all with different levels of experience, creates several different opportunities for offering sound advice, addressing similar challenges, and finding a mutual talking point.

6. They can be a sounding board for ideas

For an idea to fly, it must be tested, examined closely, and challenged from every avenue. The more we can discuss our ideas before implementing them, the stronger we can make them. Alternatively, we may conclude that it is not the ideal time to implement our ideas, which can save you precious time and money.

7. Learn from other leaders’ successes and failures

If you have access to experienced leaders from various regions, industries, and categories, rest-assured, you can learn from them in some way, shape, or form. The challenges that others face may not be the challenges you face today, but at some point, during your time as a leader, they may come your way. Being aware of the challenges that external peers face and helping them deal with these challenges can help you learn too.

From the points made above, it is apparent that there is value in external peer support for leaders. Anyone who is serious about leading, should join LeaderBridge. Consider the LeaderBridge platform as your safe space to seek peer support. You can ask questions, offer advice, and choose to connect with other like-minded peers one-on-one, in an anonymous setting. All leaders on the platform are vetted using their LinkedIn profiles, and company details, so rest assured, you are in a safe space with peers from various parts of the world. 

Ready to explore external peer support?

As leaders, we can all do with support from peers with similar challenges or experience. Leaders coming together to ask questions and offer advice is what LeaderBridge is about. A brainchild of Dr John Behr, this Q&A platform allows leaders from all around the world to come together in an anonymous setting to offer and gain peer support. You can connect by asking a question that goes out to all members (not including members of your own organization) or you can narrow the pool of recipients down to only those who meet your criteria in terms of their main subject areas of interest, position title, size of company, region, gender, and other attributes. You can also choose to connect with individuals by stating a topic of discussion rather than asking a specific question.

Join today by visiting our registration page here.