Where do you find the most valuable information related to your industry and/or business?

The online world provides an almost overwhelming amount of valuable information. Being well-read and up-to-date on the latest developments in your industry is key to maintaining your professional credibility as a company leader.

How does your company motivate employees to improve their job performance?

Everyone needs to be encouraged now and again. Appreciation can be shown in a multitude of ways. Maybe your company uses contests to foster a bit of friendly competition? Or maybe your office culture relies more on formal requests for improvement? Many companies see team-building activities as the most effective change agent. While other companies allocate resources to providing employees with ongoing training and educational opportunities.

How does your company motivate employees to improve their job performance?

The Importance of Having a Business Mentor

There are many advantages of having a mentor or a business coach. Working with someone that has more experience than you, or that offers an additional point-of-view, will help you to be more successful in life.

Most people underestimate the value of a mentor and sometimes feel as if it is showing you’re not successful as a business leader, or having the capability to work through challenges on your own. Having someone you trust as your sounding board when faced with a challenging business situation brings an added sense of confidence when making tough decisions because you are able to learn from their mistakes and successes.

At TEC, our business model revolves around a commitment to providing CEOs/top executives the opportunity to work together towards arriving at helpful, relevant and specific solutions with peers in groups and/or one-on-one with their knowledgeable Chair.

Here are some of the advantages we hear most often of finding a trustworthy person to be your life and business mentor:

1. Development of long-term relationships built on mutual trust and understanding from someone who has also “been there, done that.”
2. Strengthen your network of people who are genuinely interested in your professional and personal success.
3. Someone to give it to you straight in a world of “yes men and women.” Sometimes the truth hurts but sometimes that same truth can help prevent costly mistakes.
4. Expand your knowledge base to include valuable resources and opportunities outside your industry that you might not have found on your own.
5. Get (and stay!) motivated by someone else’s achievements to create greater success for your own company.

What would you add to this list? How has a mentor been helpful to you?

Where do you first seek guidance when making tough business decisions?

Life is full of difficult choices. For CEOs and upper-level management, making important decisions that have significant consequences for their company's bottom line and their employees can be stressful.

Bouncing options and ideas off someone you respect can help relieve some of that stress. Who do you turn to for guidance when making tough business decisions?

What aspect of TEC do you find most valuable?

One of the best things an organization can do is allocate developmental resources to the aspects deemed most valuable by members. TEC seeks to provide a forum for discussions and problem-solving with fellow executives, TEC Chairs that are available when business situations arise, helpful educational resources and guest speakers presenting on topics most relevant to our members.


What aspect of TEC do you find most valuable?

TEC 44 Group Meeting - Discussing Business Successes [VIDEO]

The TEC 44 Group assembled in October for one of their nine yearly meetings.

Group Chair, Dennis Ellmaurer, discusses the agenda for a typical group meeting and how he works with his members. It is a great opportunity for members to discuss company successes, business challenges, and work together on solving issues.

Meet a few of the TEC members and their personal story of business success through TEC.



TEC 44 Group Meeting from TEC Midwest on Vimeo.

What past President do you most admire for their leadership qualities?

We're sure, like us, many of you are relieved that this year's election cycle is complete and the time of campaign commercials has come and gone until the Presidential election cycle begins.

Presidents are often judged on their ability to lead our country through good and bad times as a metric of success. All of these past Presidents have been heralded as exceptional leaders.

Who deserves your vote for most admirable past President?

TEC Chair Talk: What TEC Means for You [VIDEO]

At September's TEC Retreat, held at the Delafield hotel, Chairs from around the Midwest came together for team building activities and workshops with guest leadership speaker, James Newton.

We asked some of our TEC Chairs what they enjoy most about being involved with TEC. Here are their responses.



TEC Chair Talk: What do you like about being involved with TEC? from TEC Midwest on Vimeo.

About James Newton
Newton Learning Corp
James Newton is Newton Learning Corporation's founder and CEO. He is a nationally known consultant, facilitator and speaker. For over 20 years, he has assisted companies increase effectiveness and profitability by cultivating accountability, effective communication, trust, and respect. James has extraordinary insight and intuition, a playful articulate style, and a deep commitment to helping people achieve their highest aspirations.