The power of peer advisory Groups: Build leadership skills with confidential peer support

Big decisions and tough challenges can leave leaders wishing for a space to talk things through openly. This is exactly where peer advisory groups step in. They provide a confidential environment where executives can connect with other leaders who understand the pressures first-hand.

More importantly, these groups are more than just networking. Instead, they bring the right people around you. Creating a circle of trust where members share challenges, gain fresh perspectives, and grow as leaders both professionally and personally.

A peer advisory group is a structured network of non-competing business owners and executives. In practice, members meet regularly to share challenges, gain feedback, and sharpen their decision-making. With the guidance of a skilled Chair, discussions stay focused, productive, and on track. Therefore, every session delivers real value.

One Vistage Chair reflects:

“There’s an energy that comes from working with business leaders to generate surprising insights and solutions. At Vistage, we make this happen from within my group environment by embracing diverse viewpoints to solve each other’s challenges.” — Kerry Skellern – Vistage Chair, Sydney

Because of this structure, transparent, candid conversations flourish, enabling a sounding board that functions like a private advisory board. In turn, this helps members overcome isolation and accelerate growth.

These peer advisory groups offer a reliable, structured format. Leaders bring real issues into the room and receive diverse, unbiased insight. As a result, peer-to-peer support provides not only practical solutions but also encouragement and reassurance.

Consequently, meetings go beyond casual conversation. They become a forum for strategic problem-solving and meaningful decision-making.

Confidentiality underpins the trust that makes peer advisory groups so powerful. Signed agreements give members peace of mind. Challenges and insights stay in the room. In turn, this leads to deeper conversations, richer insights, and more effective problem-solving.

As one Vistage Chair explains:

‘Vistage is about support. Our members and coaches support each other through both personal and professional hurdles, helping everyone grow as a leader both inside and outside the workplace. The genuine care and trust that each member has for one another is nurtured in this safe environment that Vistage creates, helping each member become their best self.’ – Paul Ronis – Vistage Chair, Brisbane

Support without structure is just camaraderie. However, paired with accountability, it drives results. Studies show that being accountable to someone increases the likelihood of achieving a goal from 65% to as high as 95%

For CEOs and executives, this accountability extends beyond personal development. Peer groups help track strategic initiatives, operational improvements, and leadership growth. Members set measurable objectives, report on progress, and receive constructive feedback. This accelerates execution and strengthens business performance.

Ultimately, peer support paired with accountability bridges the gap between insight and execution. It turns discussion into meaningful results for both leaders and their organisations.

Leaders benefit from hearing approaches outside their own experience and industries. This serves as a powerful antidote to confirmation bias. In fact, exposure to unfamiliar strategies often prompts new thinking and meaningful innovation.

By engaging with peers from different sectors and cultures, leaders are challenged to think differently. They may uncover alternative strategies for growth, innovation, talent, or risk management—approaches they might never have considered in isolation. This cross-pollination of ideas fosters creativity and often leads to more balanced decision-making.

As one Vistage Chair explains:

‘Vistage gives its members the confidence and support network to make smarter and better decisions. It challenges its members, while giving them a safe environment to take action. It’s an opportunity for leaders to learn from each other and grow in ways they never knew possible.’ – Jon Lindsay – Vistage Chair Brisbane

Peer groups give leaders the space to step back from daily concerns. In doing so, they allow for strategic planning and big-picture thinking that often gets lost.

Over time, regular peer discussions strengthen decision-making. They also build resilience, agility, and confidence which are critical traits for long-term growth.

Members tap into wisdom that extends far beyond their own knowledge base. For example, topics include strategy, marketing, leadership, and talent management.

Today’s CEOs face challenges that change rapidly. Hybrid work models, implementing AI, global supply chains, ESG, and resilience all demand attention. Therefore peer groups can provide insight that helps leaders anticipate risks and innovate with confidence.

One of the most powerful benefits is seeing how peers navigate complex challenges. By observing others, leaders gain insights they can apply to their own situations.

This shared learning encourages reflection and critical thinking. Leaders not only see what works (and what doesn’t) but also learn new approaches to decision-making and team management. The process is both practical and developmental.

Peer advisory groups don’t just provide support. They deliver real impact. Many members credit them with navigating market expansions, leadership transitions, or major investments with greater confidence.

By tapping into the collective experience of peers, leaders uncover opportunities they might never see alone. The result is stronger performance and sustainable growth.

From the Chair’s perspective, the value lies in guiding leaders toward breakthrough insights:

‘Facilitating a process that can impact on my members’ lives both professionally and personally is extremely rewarding. As a Chair, I love guiding the group to challenge and explore a fellow member’s issue or opportunity … the power of the group help that member pivot and see a new root cause.’ — Graham Morgan – Vistage Chair, Sydney

Members, too, find clarity and confidence through the peer experience:

‘Vistage is my sanity check; for myself, our business and our community… the opportunity to delve deep into others’ issues which almost always leave me with my own take-away and opportunity for improvement.’ —  Jodie Hawkes, CEO, Bowhill Engineering

‘We introduced Vistage to our team members after the value I’ve personally taken from peer-to-peer mentoring. Hearing about other people’s experiences is a great asset and can help to facilitate learning and perspective.’ Ross Sardi, CEO, First Focus IT

Other members highlight the emotional and social impact:

“Being able to complement [a board] with a pool of people at the level as me across various industries inspires me to be creative, provides me with a safe place to bounce ideas and always offers a fresh perspective for me to consider.” — Sara Blunt, CEO, Kalyra Communities

Peer advisory groups, particularly those structured like Vistage, create a rare environment where executives can safely be vulnerable, explore challenges, and accelerate personal and professional growth. In fact, in this confidential setting, leaders are free to share real concerns and admit mistakes, while asking questions without fear of judgment or competitive disadvantage. This openness, in turn, fosters a deeper level of trust, allowing members to engage authentically and meaningfully.

Moreover, beyond immediate business outcomes, participation in a confidential peer group strengthens leadership depth. Over time, members develop emotional resilience as they witness how peers manage adversity, navigate uncertainty, and balance competing priorities. Additionally, exposure to different leadership styles and approaches broadens strategic thinking, helping executives refine their own decision-making frameworks.

As one Chair puts it:

‘I believe that people and purpose are the genesis of any organisation. Throughout my career I’ve experienced the power of open dialogue and embracing diverse viewpoints to solve challenges and having access to a confidential peer group takes leadership development up another notch.’ — Kate Chalk – Vistage Chair, Adelaide

Overall being part of a peer advisory group elevates leadership from solo to shared. It’s where peer-to-peer support, structured challenge, and confidentiality converge to deliver tangible growth. As a result, the impact is felt both by the leader and the organisation they guide.

Furthermore, beyond problem-solving, leaders report increased clarity, confidence, and resilience as they observe how peers approach complex issues and apply lessons to their own organisations. In turn, the exchange of perspectives fuels creativity, fosters innovative thinking, and helps executives anticipate risks and opportunities that may otherwise go unnoticed.