How a Vistage Chair Uses Digital Outreach to Build Influence & Relationships
This conversation highlights how experienced leaders can successfully adopt digital outreach, LinkedIn, automation, and AI (even without prior experience)by focusing on learning, consistency, and the right support. Dean shares how partnering with BDR.ai helped him overcome hesitation around social media, build confidence with LinkedIn, create meaningful conversations, and generate high-quality prospects for his Vistage groups.
The key theme: you don’t need to be an expert to get started, progress comes from engagement, guidance, and momentum.
Key Takeaways
1. You Don’t Have to Be “Good at LinkedIn” to Win on LinkedIn
Dean openly admits LinkedIn was a weakness. Despite having over 1,000 connections, he wasn’t actively engaging or using the platform strategically. Instead of avoiding it, he leaned into learning and support.
Insight: Awareness of your blind spots is a leadership strength not a weakness.
2. Learning Is as Valuable as Lead Generation
Dean didn’t partner with BDR.ai out of desperation for leads. He partnered to learn and that learning unlocked new confidence, new behaviors (like creating videos), and new results.
Insight: The biggest ROI of digital outreach is often skill development, not just immediate pipeline.
3. Automation + Human Judgment Is the Sweet Spot
The technology helped Dean:
Create new conversations
Identify high-value prospects
Stay consistently visible
Nurture relationships more easily
But he still decides who matters most and where to invest personal time.
Insight: Automation should simplify relationship building not replace it.
4. AI Is Moving Fast (Waiting Is the Real Risk)
Dean emphasizes that what works today in AI and LinkedIn will evolve quickly. Leaders who wait to “figure it all out” fall behind.
Insight: The goal isn’t perfection it’s participation.
5. Great Leaders Still Need Coaches and Peer Groups
Despite running multiple successful peer advisory groups, Dean remains active in business development and strongly believes every leader needs:
A coach
A peer group
Outside perspective
Insight: Growth accelerates when leaders stay coachable.
Action Steps for Leaders
✅ 1. Identify One Digital Blind Spot
Ask yourself:
Where am I avoiding technology?
What platform do I “have” but don’t really use?
Action: Choose one area (LinkedIn, outreach, content, AI) to focus on learning—not mastering.
✅ 2. Start Small and Stay Consistent
Don’t try to do everything at once.
Action:
Spend 10–15 minutes per day engaging on LinkedIn
Use simple outreach
Let systems handle consistency while you focus on relationships
✅ 3. Use Technology to Find High-Value Relationships
Automation helps surface the people who matter most.
Action:
Tag and prioritize high-potential relationships
Create light-touch nurture systems
Personally engage where it counts
✅ 4. Embrace AI as a Learning Tool
AI isn’t static and neither should your approach be.
Action:
Experiment regularly
Expect change
Focus on progress over perfection
✅ 5. Never Grow Alone
Whether it’s a peer group, coach, or strategic partner, leaders grow faster together.
Action:
Evaluate your current support system
Commit to at least one advisory relationship that challenges and stretches you
Bottom Line
This conversation reinforces a powerful leadership truth:
You don’t need to be ahead of the curve just willing to step onto it.
By combining curiosity, coaching, and smart use of technology, leaders can expand their influence, build stronger relationships, and create sustainable growth—without losing authenticity or control.