The hidden advantage separating successful CEOs from struggling ones
Summary
Anthony Moss argues that many otherwise healthy businesses are trapped in a stage he calls “Fighting for Position”: established firms that can’t break through to consistent, higher performance. The hidden advantage that separates breakthrough CEOs from those who remain stuck is an Advisory Board. Unlike consultants, full-time hires or formal boards, Advisory Boards provide confidential, ongoing expertise and accountability that rapidly expands leadership capability and strategic reach. Moss cites research showing measurable gains for companies using advisory boards and outlines how they shift CEOs from “exertion” to inspired leadership.
Key Points
- Many firms are stable but stuck — talented teams working hard without consistent growth.
- An Advisory Board provides ongoing, vested expertise without handing over control.
- Research (Business Development Bank of Canada) links advisory boards to ~24% higher annual sales and ~18% higher productivity.
- The “unleash effect”: a safe, objective forum lets CEOs surface undiscussables, get challenged and expand organisational capability.
- Advisory boards focus CEOs on important strategic issues (not just urgent operational tasks), speeding better decisions and access to networks.
- To succeed pick the right Chair, avoid nepotism, ensure advisors have relevant expertise and run meetings as strategic working sessions.
- Advisory Boards aren’t a silver bullet — product-market fit, margins and customers still matter — but they multiply CEO impact.
Context and Relevance
In an era of rapid disruption and compressed competitive windows, the ability to access and integrate new capabilities quickly is critical. For CEOs feeling isolated or repeatedly firefighting, advisory boards are a cost-effective way to bridge capability gaps, accelerate strategic clarity and reduce risk — especially for private and mid-market companies that can’t or won’t hire full-time senior specialists.
Why should I read this?
Short answer: if you’re tired of spinning your wheels, this piece tells you a practical, proven lever to actually move the needle — and how to avoid the common mistakes most leaders make when they try it.
Author style
Punchy and practitioner-led — Moss writes from long experience and keeps the focus on clear, actionable guidance rather than management theory. If you care about results, this amplifies why the detail matters.