Episode 28 (101): High-Performing Behaviors: From Meh to Mastery in Leadership (11:47) Delegate Like a Boss: Why Chairs Can't Be Their Own Admin
Update: 2025-09-19
Description
Welcome to the ChairLife podcast with Tom Cuthbert. As a CEO, coach, and Vistage Master Chair, Tom shares insights, strategies, and tools to help you build a successful Chair practice where mission and purpose intersect with a balanced work life. This is your guide to leading with impact while living with intention. In this episode, Tom continues the series on high-performing behaviors, focusing on rejecting mediocrity, and offers tips on delegation for Chairs. Let’s dive in.
The Power of High-Performing Behaviors
Tom quotes NBA coach Phil Jackson: “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team,” applying it to Vistage groups.
Groups succeed through committed members sharing values and trust.
Vistage provides speakers, but members determine excellence.
This 12-week series (through Thanksgiving) covers behaviors to justify rate increases.
Rejecting Mediocrity in Groups
Tom defines mediocrity as average effort lacking excellence, referencing Culture by Design by David Friedman (see Episode 9).
High-performing members reject mediocrity via confrontation, challenge, and clear expectations.
Members notice mediocrity first; it erodes value for all.
Chairs must model behaviors to inspire commitment and growth.
Personal Story: Confronting Mediocrity
Tom shares his experience chairing two CEO groups, one high-performing and one average.
Challenged the average group with a 90-day notice, expressing belief in their potential.
Outcome: All but two stayed; the group improved significantly over four years.
Lesson: Extreme steps can spark self-reflection and elevation, though not recommended routinely.
Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Delegate Like a Boss: Why Chairs Can't Be Their Own Admin
Tom explains delegation's role in rejecting mediocrity, freeing Chairs for high-impact work.
Why Delegate: Chairs must focus on coaching and facilitation, not admin tasks like scheduling.
Challenges: Overload leads to burnout; self-admin distracts from member value.
How to Delegate: Hire a chief of staff or admin for logistics; set clear expectations and trust.
Benefits: Increases productivity, models behaviors for members, sustains practice longevity.
Action: Identify three admin tasks to delegate this week for better focus.
Conclusion
Thank you for tuning into ChairLife. Reject mediocrity by modeling high-performing behaviors and delegating admin to elevate your groups. Challenge one member to self-reflect and delegate a task today. See you next time.
Resources
Explore these resources to support your Vistage Chair practice:
www.tomcuthbert.com
www.chairlifepodcast.com
www.tomcuthbert.com/highperforming
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/the-boss-move-for-ordinary-workers-hiring-your-own-executive-assistant-c84d9550?st=vBPrQR&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvPyZG1Wvsg&ab_channel=ElectricalEquipmentCompany
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j0_q_f8-N6-eyJZUon04NLN7NxoRBBpOoHayYc7bXHI/edit?usp=sharing
The Power of High-Performing Behaviors
Tom quotes NBA coach Phil Jackson: “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team,” applying it to Vistage groups.
Groups succeed through committed members sharing values and trust.
Vistage provides speakers, but members determine excellence.
This 12-week series (through Thanksgiving) covers behaviors to justify rate increases.
Rejecting Mediocrity in Groups
Tom defines mediocrity as average effort lacking excellence, referencing Culture by Design by David Friedman (see Episode 9).
High-performing members reject mediocrity via confrontation, challenge, and clear expectations.
Members notice mediocrity first; it erodes value for all.
Chairs must model behaviors to inspire commitment and growth.
Personal Story: Confronting Mediocrity
Tom shares his experience chairing two CEO groups, one high-performing and one average.
Challenged the average group with a 90-day notice, expressing belief in their potential.
Outcome: All but two stayed; the group improved significantly over four years.
Lesson: Extreme steps can spark self-reflection and elevation, though not recommended routinely.
Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Delegate Like a Boss: Why Chairs Can't Be Their Own Admin
Tom explains delegation's role in rejecting mediocrity, freeing Chairs for high-impact work.
Why Delegate: Chairs must focus on coaching and facilitation, not admin tasks like scheduling.
Challenges: Overload leads to burnout; self-admin distracts from member value.
How to Delegate: Hire a chief of staff or admin for logistics; set clear expectations and trust.
Benefits: Increases productivity, models behaviors for members, sustains practice longevity.
Action: Identify three admin tasks to delegate this week for better focus.
Conclusion
Thank you for tuning into ChairLife. Reject mediocrity by modeling high-performing behaviors and delegating admin to elevate your groups. Challenge one member to self-reflect and delegate a task today. See you next time.
Resources
Explore these resources to support your Vistage Chair practice:
www.tomcuthbert.com
www.chairlifepodcast.com
www.tomcuthbert.com/highperforming
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/the-boss-move-for-ordinary-workers-hiring-your-own-executive-assistant-c84d9550?st=vBPrQR&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvPyZG1Wvsg&ab_channel=ElectricalEquipmentCompany
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j0_q_f8-N6-eyJZUon04NLN7NxoRBBpOoHayYc7bXHI/edit?usp=sharing
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