More specifically: I am looking for either an individual (mentor) or a small group that I can participate in to help me sharpen up my skills in the area of leadership and culture building, two areas which I have learned the hard way over the years are vital. I am not looking for a consultant or to pay high fees—I want to contribute to a group as much as I benefit from it and I don’t think that should involve money changing hands.
I am especially interested in character-based, value-centered leadership, the style that John Wooden has taught. I would like to avoid large, membership-style organizations because it has been my experience that they carry high fees, have mandatory participation that may be beyond my time constraints, do not always focus on personal development, and most importantly: I have sometimes found a great deal of behind-closed-doors narcissism that has caused me to leave such organizations in the past. Books are also helpful.
Context: In a previous startup it became clear to me after 6 years as CEO and a few key departures that I had an authoritarian leadership style. Upon realizing this I made the difficult but correct decision to bring in a new CEO who mentored me and took the company from $2m to $15m including a successful exit. We recently bought a new business together – roughly $5m annual and 30 employees with tons of growth ahead. I am operating this one and he is operating another. I think my leadership skills from his mentorship are good, but always want to improve. I’m looking for mentors and/or small group in-person situations that you might recommend to help me take on this much bigger endeavor.