The Power of Peer Groups: Why Every Leader Needs One
August 7, 2025 – Success can be isolating. As entrepreneurs, executives, and business owners, we are expected to have all the answers, make the tough calls, and push forward—even when the weight of leadership feels overwhelming. However, here is the truth: no one succeeds alone, according to a recent article from Steve Ziegler, founder of the Denver-based executive search firm Z3Talent. “As a business leader, there are plenty of things you can outsource—finance, marketing, operations, but there is one thing you can’t: decision-making at the top and most of the time, there is no playbook for the challenges that come your way,” he said.
Early in his career, Mr. Ziegler tried to navigate those challenges on his own. He had a couple of mentors, which were crucial, but it wasn’t enough. “They had already made it, in a sense,” Mr. Ziegler said. “I felt myself wanting more. I didn’t have anyone I felt I could really turn to for shared experiences. There was always a gap – a lack of space where I could be fully transparent about the real struggles of running a business and making crucial decisions for the business but also important life decisions. This changed when I joined my first peer group, YEO (now EO).”
If you’re a CEO, founder, or senior executive and haven’t yet found a trusted peer group, you’re missing a critical lever for growth, according to Mr. Ziegler. “Peer groups aren’t just about networking—they’re about shared wisdom, accountability, and perspective in a confidential setting,” he said. “The right group can become a strategic asset in both your leadership and personal development.”
Mr. Ziegler spent 18 years as a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and is currently in his fifth year as a strategic resource partner with Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). He also co-founded Ascendeur and ManUprising. Additionally, he has participated in Leadership Denver and Impact Denver, programs run by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce focused on leadership development.
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“Across all these experiences, the common thread is a commitment to continuous growth through shared experiences in trusted, confidential environments,” he said. “These experiences weren’t just a helpful resource—they were and continue to be transformational. They changed how I think as a businessperson. They expanded my worldview, improved my decision-making, and introduced me to a network of high-integrity leaders I now count as friends. They were game changers—not just for me as an entrepreneur, but for my entire family.”
7 Reasons Peer Groups Add Real Value
1. Experience You Can’t Buy.
Leadership requires judgment, and judgment is refined through experience, Mr. Ziegler explained. “Peer groups bring together leaders who have been through acquisitions, pivots, culture shifts, and hiring mistakes,” he said. “Their insights can help you avoid critical missteps—and see opportunities you might miss on your own. In my peer groups, I have sat down with CEOs, founders, and executives who have navigated acquisitions, cash flow crises, hiring missteps, succession planning, and strategic pivots. Their lessons have helped me avoid multi-million-dollar mistakes and have given me perspective when it mattered most.”
Steve Ziegler brings over 25 years of experience in retained executive search and has a successful track record partnering with client organizations to deliver best-in-class talent to companies that are entrepreneurial-led, private equity-backed, and family-owned businesses. Throughout his career, he has placed over 1000 professionals spanning most industries, geographies, and functions. He is passionate about partnering with entrepreneurs, private equity firms, and family businesses in identifying hard-to-find executives for their companies that are going through some sort of transformational shift.
2. Confidentiality Creates Honesty.
“Most senior leaders don’t have a safe space,” Mr. Ziegler said. “Peer groups offer something few environments do: radical transparency. You can share what is keeping you up at night—whether it’s stress over a key hire, tension with your board, or burnout. There’s no posturing. Just real, unfiltered dialogue among people who have been there.”
3. Real Accountability.
High-performing people often don’t get held accountable—they are the accountability, according to Mr. Ziegler. “Peer groups change that dynamic. When you tell a group of respected peers what you plan to do, you follow through,” he said. “The external accountability sharpens your focus and drives results.”
4. Fresh Perspective from Outside Your Industry.
Most business problems aren’t unique, but Mr. Ziegler noted that when you are surrounded by people from your own business space, you tend to approach them the same way. He explained that peer groups often include leaders from diverse industries, which generates more creative, tested solutions. Some of the most valuable strategies he has implemented came from people running very different companies.
5. Leadership Includes the Personal Side.
“What I didn’t expect—but came to value the most—was how much these groups focused on the full picture of leadership: family, relationships, health, mindset,” Mr. Ziegler said. “These peer groups created space for my whole life—not just business. Our family benefited from global learning events, retreats, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. EO and YPO are intentional about including spouses, kids, and families as part of the journey.”
6. Growth Beyond Business.
Peer groups don’t just make you a better executive—they push you to be a better parent, partner, and person, according to Mr. Ziegler. “Many groups include structured time to talk about personal leadership: relationships, health, and family. Ignoring those areas catches up with even the best leaders,” he said. “Integrating them creates longevity.”
7. Access to Thought Leaders You Can’t Find Anywhere Else.
These communities gave Mr. Ziegler opportunities he never imagined. He traveled around the world with leaders he admired. Mr. Ziegler sat in private sessions with business icons like:
- Dan Cathy, chairman of Chick-fil-A
- Kendra Scott, founder of Kendra Scott Jewelry
- Tony Hsieh, the late CEO of Zappos
- Brad Feld, founder of Foundry Group
He was invited to sit with heads of state and governors, including Jared Polis, Bill Owens, Bill Ritter as well as the former President of Columbia, Álvaro Uribe Vélez. “The exposure to world-class leadership and thinking was unmatched—and it fundamentally changed the way I show up in business and in life,” Mr. Ziegler said.
Here are 10 peer groups Mr. Ziegler points to that are worth exploring:
1. YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization): Global network for CEOs under 45.
2. EO (Entrepreneurs’ Organization): Founders with $1M+ in revenue.
3. Vistage: CEO and executive peer groups with professional facilitators.
4. Tiger 21: High-net-worth group focused on wealth and legacy.
5. ManUprising: Midlife men ready to realize true success in all aspects of life.
6. Chief: Executive network for women (VP and above).
7. Renaissance Executive Forums: Strategic growth for SMB leaders.
8. Strategic Coach: Coaching for growth-stage entrepreneurs.
9. WPO (Women Presidents Organization): Women-led businesses $2M+.
10. Convene: Peer groups for Christian business leaders.
Final Thought: Leadership is a Team Sport
“The most successful leaders aren’t the ones who try to do everything alone—they are the ones who surround themselves with the right people, seek out guidance, and embrace continuous learning,” Mr. Ziegler said. If you’re not already part of a peer group, ask yourself: Where do you go for real, honest advice? Who holds you accountable to your biggest goals? Who challenges you to be better? If you can’t answer those questions, it’s time to find your group because leadership isn’t meant to be a solo journey, it’s meant to be shared.”
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
