Why Every Leader Should Step Outside Their Business: The Value of Boards, Peer Groups, and External Perspective

External Perspective Creates Internal Growth

Sain currently serves on the board of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) Nebraska, where he also holds the role of Membership Chair. He’s been part of EO for four years. He also participates in two collision repair industry groups: RPG (Regional Performance Group) and NAPG (North American Performance Group). In addition, Central Body is active in multiple state auto body associations.

These groups have offered fresh insight on common challenges. “You quickly realize that most leadership issues are universal,” Sain explains. “It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in. We’re all navigating the same big-picture questions around growth, people, and purpose.”

Leading with Purpose

One of Sain’s most important breakthroughs came during a strategy session with EO leadership. He walked away with a purpose statement that now guides how he leads: To serve and raise others up so all people have fulfillment and joy.

“That applies to our employees, our customers, and even my peers,” says Sain. “It’s about giving others what they need to grow.”

Listening Over Leading

Through his work on boards and in peer groups, Sain has seen that the best leaders are the ones who listen the most. “I try not to be the person in the room doing all the talking,” he says. Instead, he focuses on asking better questions and giving people space to share.

Inside Central Body, Sain has built a leadership team that complements his strengths. He emphasizes that having specialists in marketing, finance, and operations has helped the company scale. “I used to be the person who did everything,” he says. “Now my job is to support the experts and keep the vision moving forward.”

The Power of Peer Support

One of the most impactful aspects of EO for Sain has been Forum, a confidential group of fellow business owners who meet monthly to discuss the high and low points of business, life, and family.

“It’s a space to be vulnerable,” he explains. “As a leader, you don’t always have people in your life who fully understand what you’re dealing with. Forum gives me that support.”

Choosing the Right Commitments

When evaluating where to invest his time, Sain uses a simple rule:
If it’s not a strong yes, it’s a no.

“Time is your most limited resource as a business owner,” he says. “I focus on where I can grow the most and where I can bring back ideas that really move the company forward.”

Staying Connected to the Team

Even though Sain now spends most of his time working on strategy rather than day-to-day operations, he’s intentional about staying visible. He makes it a priority to visit at least one shop each week to connect with the team, celebrate wins, and reinforce culture.

“I used to walk in and try to fix things,” he admits. “Now, I try to walk in and point out what’s going well. That’s a shift in mindset, and it helps build a more positive and empowered team.”

Advice for Emerging Leaders

For business owners looking to grow, Sain strongly recommends Entrepreneurs’ Organization. For companies not yet at $1 million in revenue, EO offers an Accelerator Program designed to help them scale.

He also encourages entrepreneurs to join a performance group within their industry. “That decision helped us go from one shop to two, and eventually to six locations across four states,” he says. “Learning from others who have already done it is incredibly valuable.”