In this episode of The Edge, host Courtney Montfort sits down with Amber Fields, Chief Culture Officer at trueU, and Stephanie Neale, CEO of Blind Zebra, for a dynamic conversation about leadership, sales, and work-life integration. They explore how these three successful women have created their own "board of directors" to support each other professionally and personally. The conversation dives into goal setting, mentorship, maintaining authenticity in leadership, and the challenges of balancing career ambitions with family responsibilities. Along the way, they share personal insights on what gives each of them their unique edge in business and life.

In this episode, Tim Leman sits down with Dr. Mike Godard, President of Indiana State University, to discuss leadership, mentorship, and creating a culture of care. Dr. Godard shares his journey from first-generation college student to university president, highlighting the importance of building authentic relationships and maintaining a student-centered approach. They explore the synergy between the university and the Terre Haute community, the impact of social media on campus engagement, and what gives Indiana State its distinctive edge in preparing students for success.

On this episode of The Edge, co-host Taylor Covey sits down with Cory Tanner, President & Founder of Exit IQ based in Salt Lake City. Cory shares his entrepreneurial journey from his first venture in the green energy space to founding Exit IQ with his father. Throughout the conversation, they explore how Cory's competitive mindset shaped his business approach, the lessons he learned from both successes and failures, and the importance of putting people in positions where they can win. Cory also discusses how he finds harmony between work and family life while maintaining meaningful relationships that drive his success.

In this episode, Tim Leman sits down with Laura Langehaug, a Vistage Chair based in Salt Lake City, to explore the power of empathetic leadership. Laura shares her journey from an HR professional to an executive coach, highlighting the importance of fostering a safe space for business leaders to grow, connect, and navigate the challenges of leadership.

On this episode of The Edge, host Tim Leman sits down with Ashley Bontrager Lehman, Founder & CEO of Ember Recreational Vehicles. Ashley shares her journey from growing up in a family deeply rooted in the RV industry to forging her own path as an entrepreneur. She opens up about launching a business during the pandemic, the power of branding, and navigating family dynamics in business. They also discuss leadership, team culture, and the intentionality that drives her success.

Lane Monson, founder of Platinum Circle Coaching, and co-host Taylor Covey dive into his leadership journey from CEO to entrepreneur to executive coach. Lane talks about leveraging structure for good, how the greatest leaders work on their thoughts & beliefs, and the power of authentic connection.  

Crystal Miller joins co-host Courtney Montfort to talk about mentorship, core values, compassion, and family. Crystal is the President of IU Health Foundation and Senior Vice President for IU Health, leading philanthropy and sustainability efforts. In this episode, she and Courtney explore how values are always at the foundation of the health system’s efforts to not only provide more robust clinical care to patients, but also to be better neighbors and improve the communities they serve. Crystal also discusses the role her dad has had in shaping her leadership journey and helping her discover her edge.  

Adam Frederico, owner of Utah’s Frederico Outdoor Living and an EOS Implementer, joins co-host Taylor Covey to talk about his journey to entrepreneurship and taking over the family business. They discuss the impact EOS has had in aligning his team to one vision. Adam shares his leadership approach to helping others become the best versions of themselves. They also explore the importance of change and how Adam strives to stay connected with family.  

Sally Leyes joins co-host Courtney Montfort to talk about what set her on a trajectory of taking risks and trying new things. She discusses her 17+year journey with Cummins Inc., a global power solutions technology leader headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, and shares lessons from the new roles & challenges she said yes to along the way.  

Host Tim Leman is joined by South Bend (IN) teen Rima for this episode of The Edge. Rima was recently named Midwest Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Club and is one of just six teens competing at Nationals. She and Tim discuss the impact Club has made on her life – teaching her fundamental values and pushing her to raise the bar. Rima has found her voice and passion for advocacy; she has a gift for communication and a drive to be a servant leader. 

Check out this episode of The Edge Podcast:

Dr. Carrazco of Happy Kids Pediatrics, a family-run practice in Arizona, joins co-host Alex Rodriguez, to discuss his leadership journey, reflect on his blessings, and share valuable life lessons. He talks about humility, as well as finding & following your passion. Dr. Carrazco and Alex also explore what makes a cohesive team and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. 

Check out this episode of The Edge Podcast:

As we approach the grand opening of our new Indianapolis office next week, it’s a moment to pause and reflect on the journey that has led us to this point. Relocating an office is far more than just shifting desks and chairs; it’s about evolving with the times, embracing new possibilities, and learning from every challenge.  

We started this search in 2019, when we had less than 10 people in our Indy office. Fast forward to June 2024 when we finally moved into our new space – and we are just under 40 employees! Reflecting on this five-year journey made me realize there were some key leadership lessons learned along the way, that really apply to any team working together… well, the last point may be specific to moving offices 😉

Kara Woolsey, CEO of Mom Water, joins co-host Courtney Montfort to explore the importance of asking questions and looking at things through different lenses. She discusses Mom Water’s unique origin story and her own leap of faith, while also diving into the vital importance of people and culture. 

Julie Wright is the Vice President of Employee Engagement at Royal United Mortgage, a national mortgage lender headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Julie joins co-host Courtney Montfort to share a glimpse into her talk “Dear Younger Self,” where she reflects on the challenges she faced10 years ago when she began a new role. She discusses the lessons she learned during that time and how she has grown as a leader. 

What would you say if you could go back in time, to the early part of your career, and talk with your “younger self”? What advice would you give? How transparent would you be with the ups and downs you experienced, and would you do anything differently? This is the discussion I’ve been having with hundreds of people via a leadership talk that I give called, “Dear Younger Self.”

Onesimo (Mo) Vigil is the CEO of Inteli-Care, a locally owned, non-medical home health care provider based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mo joins co-host Alex Rodriguez to share what he has learned throughout his journey as an entrepreneur. They also discuss the importance of family and how their support makes all the difference in running a successful business. 

Larry Swank is the founder and chairman of Sterling Group, a developer and manager of multi-family housing and self-storage units based in Indiana. Larry joins host Tim Leman on The Edge to share his journey as an entrepreneur. He discusses the importance of intuition, learning from mistakes, and staying focused, while also providing valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of running a family business. 

Clint Squadroni, CEO ofInXpress, joins co-host Taylor Covey on The Edge to discussthe importance of mentorship, giving back to the community, and how work ethic has given Clint his edge in life. They also dive into the defining qualities of effective leadership and the paths that lead to personal and professional success.

Host Tim Leman introduces the dynamic trio of co-hosts for Season 6: Alex Rodriguez, Courtney Montfort, and Taylor Covey. Together they dive into their motivations for becoming co-hosts and share their passion for connecting with people. Tune in to discover how these hosts find their edge and embrace the thrill of trying new things. 

As the parent of a preschooler, I’ve watched every episode of Bluey more than once. This Australian kids’ show about a blue heeler puppy and her canine friends and family is a staple in our household. If you’ve ever watched an episode of Bluey with your child, you'll know it's more than just a show for kids—it's a goldmine of wisdom that applies to our grown-up lives. This got me thinking: how can we take lessons learned from Bluey to help us level up at work?

Today’s blog is coauthored by Gibson’s Haley Lane and Kenzie Anders, both of whom grew up in the town of Plymouth, Indiana, where the Gibson roots first began back in 1933. You might say they are true homegrown Gibson employees.  

Kenzie and I, now colleagues at Gibson, were once high school volleyball teammates. I was the team captain and setter my senior year and Kenzie was the starting middle hitter as a freshman. We spent many afternoons, evenings, and weekends together in the gym. 

Reading non-fiction is like going on a treasure hunt for me, and I’m always on the lookout for authors who push me to expand my perspectives. In 2023, I read Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know, in which Adam Grant introduces the concept of mental flexibility when it comes to questioning your opinions and updating your beliefs. Grant encourages readers to adopt the mindset of a scientist, where beliefs are hypotheses to be tested rather than truths to be defended. This perspective shift—and new focus on and openness to admitting what I don't know—has been a powerful catalyst for my personal and professional growth and success.

Empathy, or the lack of it, makes for unforgettable customer experiences. 

Last spring, my older son got his third concussion while scrambling for an errant, playground football. It was a long night in the ER, and we weren't discharged until nearly midnight. 
 
And when it rains, sometimes it pours. My all-day conference was winding down two days later when my husband texted:  "I think Moses is having appendicitis; I'm taking him to the ER." 
 

After making any sort of significant change in your life, you may have found yourself saying “Well, it’s only been a few months since…” to explain why you don’t know something, why you’re still catching up, or as it relates to the progress you’ve made in a positive way. Recently, I found myself saying, “Well, it’s been almost a year since I joined Gibson.” What I didn’t say out loud, but was certainly thinking in my head, was “ALREADY?!?” 

So much can change in 12 months. And life changes—such as a career move—are not ones to make lightly or haphazardly. As my dad taught me, “You find a job and work really hard. You stay loyal to them, and they will be loyal to you. You ride out the hard times because of the good.”   

On May 2, 2022, my mother, Kelly Slusser, was killed in an auto accident. She was involved in a head-on collision. The other driver was texting and driving.  

As a devoted stay-at-home mom, my mother raised five children, and was at every game, concert, and birthday, as well as the occasional meeting with the school principal. She was relatively quiet and reserved. At her funeral, I expected to see a few family members and close friends. To my surprise, hundreds of people showed up, with a line extending out of the building.

Throwback Thursday: This blog was written in January 2020. Four years (and a pandemic) later, here I am getting ready for another Gibson State Of The Company meeting - this time with over 170 employees tuning in from offices in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Utah! It has been exciting to see these meetings evolve with our organization, but even if some of the elements have changed, the essentials are the same – we are paying close attention to the details to make this meeting a great experience for our people, employee recognition is a BIG part of the day, and we always try to have some fun!  

Earlier this month I attended my first Gibson State Of The Company (SOTC) meeting. All 140 Gibson employees gathered in South Bend for the day to reflect on the past 12 months and ignite our energy for the year ahead.

I have never been one for making New Year’s resolutions. In my experience, these grand promises we make to ourselves often prove to be more daunting than beneficial and are rarely sustainable beyond the first few weeks of the year, leading to feelings of failure.   

This year, I am taking a different approach. I’m focusing on gradual, consistent improvement—implementing small, manageable daily changes that allow me to do better work and commit to being excellent in what I do. 

Setting my focus on doing better work does not mean my current work isn’t great or impactful. It means I am setting a goal of sustainable excellence—and creating a system that allows me to support myself in reaching my greatest potential. 

Below are a few simple strategies I’m incorporating into my work routine in 2024. I encourage you to try integrating one, two, or all these habits into your work life, too. I am confident these little steps, taken consistently, will lead to big achievements over time. 

We started our Gibson leadership blogs over 10 years ago – wow! I’ve especially enjoyed the unique collection of leadership thoughts, perspectives, and insights our guest bloggers have provided. I also want to thank our Gibson team for sharing their voices throughout the year – it was great to have so many of my fellow employee-owners featured in our posts!  

Let's celebrate our most popular blogs of 2023.  

What a year for The Edge Podcast! We recorded 21 episodes – featuring leaders from across the country and a vast array of industries and experiences. We even had a very special Mother’s Day edition featuring the one and only Ruth Leman.  

I learned so much from these guests and their journeys. They each have a unique edge in life and lessons to share. I hope you enjoyed listening to their stories!  

Let's celebrate our most popular podcast episodes of 2023.

A tradition is born

To cap off the holiday chaos, our family celebrates a sweet tradition on Christmas morning that's far from ordinary – we eat ice cream for breakfast!  

This tradition started as a fluke in 2020. In an effort to make Christmas as special as possible after a year of chaos, I had planned on decadent cinnamon rolls that morning. I envisioned a Hallmark-worthy moment; the house smelling of cinnamon, kids tearing into presents followed by family time around the table with the kids devouring their treat. Turns out…my kids don’t like cinnamon rolls…at all. Desperate to save the moment, I said they could have whatever they wanted for breakfast. My then 7-year-old says “Even ice cream????” Why not! A year later, when we were preparing for Christmas, both kids reminded me about the AMAZING thing we did last year...ice cream for breakfast. A tradition was born.

Throwback Thursday: This 2015 blog shares important reminders for the holiday season. Take some time to listen - what bells are you hearing? 

You would be hard pressed to miss the sound of ringing bells this time of year. Church bells, sleigh bells, and of course Salvation Army bells all proclaim the joy and happiness of the Season. It makes me wonder – do we all hear the same bell?

“The purpose of my life is to be a connectingsuperherofor every Visionary who shares their stories with the world." - Justin Breen

Justin Breen, a self-described “dad who happens to be an entrepreneur,” joins host Tim Leman on The Edge Podcast. Justin is hyper-focused on connecting Visionaries – he has made it his life’s work. He and Tim also discuss the importance of family and how Justin strives to “win at the right game,” to always keep trying to be a better dad.     

“The equity and inclusion pieces are just as important to enable and empower diversity within the insurance industry." - Grace Grant

Grace Grant is Executive Director of Gamma Iota Sigma, a collegiate organization for students interested in insurance & risk management. Grace joins host Tim Leman on The Edge to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the industry and explore what students are looking for from internships & careers, as well as what makes for transformational teams and where she has found her edge.   

In the middle of my dining room table sits The Thankful Pumpkin. It sits there every fall. Next to it sits a Sharpie for our family to write things we are grateful for on it.  

The Thankful Pumpkin is one of my prized possessions. Why? It’s a reminder of what we’ve had to be thankful for, are thankful for, to be thankful for small and great things, the tangible and intangible, the seen and unseen.  

“It is critical as leaders that we have this human-centered design approach, that is always rooted in the community." - Stephanie Parra

Stephanie Parra is a trailblazer in Arizona. She joins host Tim Leman on The Edge to discuss the work her organization, ALL In Education, is doing to advocate for equity, opportunity, and justice for all students. Stephanie & Tim talk about the importance of a human-centered design approach, shifting the narrative & perspective, and what makes her team unique & impactful.   

“With the right preparation and hard work, you can pretty much accomplish anything you put your mind to." - Cina Welch

Cina Welch, President & CEO of FCCI Insurance Group, joins host Tim Leman to share lessons and perspectives from her leadership journey. Together they discuss the important role mentorship plays, how work ethic has given Cina an edge, her commitment to authenticity, as well as her love of travel & adventure.   

“When you have to let go of the vine and trust somebody else to make good decisions and carry out the vision...that was the scariest thing I’ve ever done." - Juliana Lindsay

Juliana Lindsay, a Professional EOS Implementer from Utah, joins host Tim Leman to discuss the lessons she’s learned as a mom and entrepreneur. They explore the impact EOS has had on her life – personally, family, and professionally, especially the importance of letting go of the vine. Juliana & Tim also talk about the importance of peer groups, getting the right people in the right seats, casting a clear vision, and more.  

Human beings were designed to be communal. We were designed to work with others, interact with one another, live in close quarters together, and depend on each other for survival.  

In fact, studies show that having less regular social interaction in your life is associated with impaired immune function, heart disease, and even cancer.  

Now maybe that feels like a stretch, but I really believe there is something to this. Something special happens when people are brought together with other people, specifically those moving in the same direction.  

Whether it be your family members, your neighbors, your church community, your youth sports league team, your non-profit committee, or your workplace, there is beauty to be found in the results of human beings coming together for a shared purpose. 

We're rounding out Season 5 of The Edge Podcast with 5 NEW episodes! Tune in to hear host Tim Leman talk with our guests about leadership, teams, and finding your edge.  

Throwback Thursday: Are you leading to your fullest? Great reminders in this 2015 blog, inspired by Hemingway, about being resilient, introspective, adaptive, collaborative, and clear.

On a visit to Key West, I was able to spend a little time at Ernest Hemingway’s home in Key West. Hemingway resided in the house for most of the 1930s, as well as when he visited in the 1940s and 1950s. I was particularly struck by his writer’s studio on the second floor of a carriage house on the grounds.

“You have to know where your people are and how they want to be led." - Pedro Cons

Pedro Cons, CEO of Adelante Healthcare, joins host Tim Leman to discuss how he and his organization strive to close the gaps in care for their patients. They talk about the critical role collaboration and partnership play in achieving that vision. Pedro also shares about the importance of mentorship, emotional intelligence, and embracing situational leadership.  

I was recently reflecting on what makes our Arizona team collaboration so great & how we have all been able to connect so easily, then it hit me: we are all comfortable with being uncomfortable. 

“When we overcommit, when we spread ourselves too thin, then it is a bunch of encounters, but they are not genuine.  " - Adam Kronk

Adam Kronk, Chief Culture & Leadership Development Officer at Lippert, shares lessons from his unique career journey. Adam & Tim also discusshis intentionality around creating genuine encounters with team members and family.  

“We’ve focused on the culture. When you do that, not only are you providing somewhere where people want to work, but in turn, they are executing on what needs to be done for growth." - Andrea Sloan

Andrea Sloan, President of GroundBreakers, joins host Tim Leman to discuss her passion for creating culture and growth. They explore lessons she learned from her time in the military, the impact EOS has had on her as a leader and on the organization, as well as her fearlessness, which Andrea says is her edge in life.  

“We all have a natural way we take action. This has nothing to do with your capabilities and how smart you are; it has nothing to do with your personality. This unique part of you is very predictive of what you do well and the type of tasks you’ll be aligned with. " - Amy Bruske

Amy Bruske of Kolbe Corp joins host Tim Leman to discuss the unique ways we each take action and how understanding these striving instincts can be impactful in the workplace as well as at home. She shares about her leadership journey, advice for family businesses, and what makes for a strong team. Amyalso talks about how she found heredge and how she has harnessed it to achieve success.  

I recently had the pleasure of sharing a cup of coffee with a colleague and one of our bright interns who will be heading off to college in a few weeks. As we chatted, I was struck by his genuine enthusiasm to connect with others, learn, and seek advice from experienced individuals. Despite the excitement and anticipation of starting a new chapter in his life, he has already been taking proactive steps to make the most of his time and energy. Witnessing such intentionality from a young mind was truly refreshing. It reminded me of the immense value in reaching out to others, sharing passions, and exchanging ideas. It was a poignant reminder that by embracing a Better Together philosophy, we open doors to endless possibilities for growth and fulfillment in our personal and professional lives.

Season 5 of The Edge Podcast continues! Host Tim Leman talks with 6 leaders – from a variety of industries and experiences – to share real stories of leadership, teams, and finding your edge.   

Host Tim Leman is back with a brand-new season of The Edge Podcast! Tune in to hear real stories of leadership, teams, and finding your edge.  

“Part of my role as a leader is to help people get to where they’re trying to go. " - Congressman Rudy Yakym

Rudy Yakym joins host Tim Leman to share about his journey to Congress and the lessons on leadership, culture, and community he has learned along the way. The Congressman talks about navigating competing interests, as well as the role he takes to help his team member achieve their aspirations. Rudy & Tim also discuss intentionality as it related to leadership, who we surround ourselves with, and how we stay connected to family.  

“You have to create trust. And trust takes time. It takes face-to-face, getting to know each other, and provingyourself. There are no shortcuts. " - Julio Martinez

Julio Martinez joins host Tim Leman to talk about building personal relationships, trust, and teams. As CEO of Mno-Bmadsen, the non-gaming investment of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, Julio shares a unique leadership perspective on how to keep culture at the forefront when bringing together people and companies across an array of industries and expertise.     

We’ve been talking a lot about what it means to be better together this year at Gibson. It has me reflecting on what brought me here three years ago and how instrumental our collective teamwork model has been to me.  

Being part of a team has allowed me to thrive. It has allowed me to focus on doing what I am most passionate about - acting as a liaison between HR, employees, and the rest of our consulting team to be their collective voice and elevate the role of HR and how it's viewed within an organization.

“It is these three characteristics alltogether - need for achievement, competitiveness, and optimism – that psychologically create the perfect storm." - Dr. Christopher Croner

Dr. Christopher Croner is a sales psychologist, assessment developer, and founder of SalesDrive. Dr. Croner and host Tim Leman explore the non-teachable traits of top performing salespeople: the need for achievement, competitiveness, and optimism. They also talk about Dr. Croner’s curiosity and what led him to study psychology.     

“I’ve always been more juiced by watching other people be successful. I felt my success was helping others be successful." - Charlie Burnham

Charlie Burnham is a serial entrepreneur and a respected leader in the insurance industry, with a passion for helping others. In this episode of The Edge, he and Tim discuss building high-performing teams as well as the importance of connecting and building relationships. Charlie also shares what he has found to be the key attributes for successful salespeople.    

“Clarity of purpose solves a lot of problems." - Neil Alldredge

Neil Alldredge, CEO of NAMIC, joins The Edge to talk about servant leadership, clarity of purpose, and embracing a collaborative leadership style. As the leader of a trade association, Neil provides insight on the unique dynamics of working with board chairs and advice for setting clear expectations for successful board relationships. Neil and Tim also discuss the interesting history of insurance companies and the growing focus on diversity in the industry.  

“The right fit has to be the first and foremost quality you look for in a sales professional." - Mark Bundy

In this episode of The Edge Podcast, Mark Bundy shares about his early leadership lessons, emphasizing the importance of a strong work ethic, leading by example, and respecting competitors. From his over 20 years of experience as a COO in the insurance industry, Mark offers valuable insights on key characteristics to look for when recruiting sales professionals, connecting and coaching salespeople, and leading with empathy.  

“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” - Mark Twain

About six years ago, I connected with Gibson’s CEO, Tim Leman, after hearing him speak on a leadership podcast. Being somewhat new to the insurance industry at the time and limited in perspective, I was curious about a number of things that he shared so figured an outreach couldn’t hurt. He said ‘yes,’ which would eventually lead to a series of conversations and several months later, I joined Gibson.

Little did I know at the time that Tim had published a book, written years before, that would lay out a vision for Gibson to have a Michigan office. In our conversations, Tim laid out a vision of what my career could look like and the incredible opportunity we could pursue together. I recognized a gap in what the local market needed relative to proactive risk management, and through some due diligence with the operational leaders, I felt Gibson’s approach would resonate.

Season 4 of The Edge Podcast continues! Host Tim Leman talks with 6 leaders – from a variety of industries and experiences – to share real stories of leadership, teams, and finding your edge.  

Throwback Thursday: How do you move away from "The Doctor Is In" approach to a healthier and more productive workplace? The difference lies in a simple question. Give this throwback blog from 2018 a read for a great reminder and change in perspective. 

Like the Peanuts cartoon depicts, organizations often have someone operating a complaint department. Most visitors are well-intentioned in their session with the company “therapist.” They’re seeking coaching or advice on a challenging issue and plan to act upon it. Unfortunately, what they often get back is the equivalent of Lucy’s “Eat a jelly-bread sandwich” guidance to Charlie Brown.

Alternatively, they may just be looking to release some pent-up frustration. They’re looking for “a sympathetic ear, and the promise of keeping things ‘between us.’ In many organizations, these therapists seem to serve a valuable purpose – or at least do no real harm,” writes author, speaker, and business leader Mike Paton.

But is that really the case? Does this habit of “complaint departments” really cause no harm?

“It is interesting how life comes around in a circle - what’s happened to you in your early years plays a part in your later years." - Ruth Leman

This very special episode features Ruth Leman, host Tim Leman’s mom.Hear Tim and his mom discussher childhood in Latin America, her passion for teaching, as well as the joys and challenges of raising Tim. Tune in for some fun stories of Tim’s early years and characteristics his mom still sees present in his life today.  

How is Gibson handling remote work? Are you letting your employees work from home? How are you going to get employees back in the office full-time?  

I still frequently hear these questions in meetings. The reality is Gibson will forever have some kind of workplace flexibility, and if handled properly, it can be a great way to help address the ever-changing needs of our workforce.  

Often, I am told by teammates that working from home allows them to be more productive, work harder, stay focused longer, or get more work done in a day. My response to this is usually: "Well, that's great, but what are you giving up by not being in the office?" 

There Was No Class

I was in the middle of my first semester of an MBA program, deep in Accounting and Finance assignments, when I got troubling news about my pregnancy with Mercy Joan: something was very wrong. Luke and I would spend the next 20 weeks hoping and praying, meeting with everyone from neurosurgeons to hospice providers.

According to Tom Peters, lunch is sacred. As he sees it, throughout the year we have “225 golden-never-to-be-repeated opportunities” to meet new people, learn new things, and build and nurture relationships inside and outside our organizations.

Okay, I like lunch as much as the next person. I fill my shared lunch hours with friends and colleagues whenever I can. But I’ve never thought of it as sacred. What gives?

Saying YES gives you a path forward...instead of staying stuck.

I’ve had the pleasure of serving Oaklawn for over 35 years, and as CEO for the past 17. Oaklawn is the community mental health center for the Michiana region, providing behavioral health services to over 25,000 individuals every year. In my tenure, I’ve seen many changes, but perhaps none as transformational as in the last two years. To get here, it took our whole team saying YES to a new way of doing things.

My longtime colleague Brad Serf often says, “I’ve told myself I would never be the old guy unable to adapt, wary of change, and pessimistic about the outcome; who wants to be around that guy?” I share his aspiration.

But finding the right balance can be difficult. How can I be a voice of experience, yet not become “that guy”?

In the workplace, I find there is also the natural order of things. The younger generation is raring to go, they are ready for the older generation to get out of their way. Meanwhile, the older have finally found their stride, likely performing with the highest confidence and have no intention of getting out of the way. How do these reconcile? How can multiple generations function effectively in an organization? Not just that, but how can they be better together?

“If we say it, we can fix it. If we don't say it, it is never going to get fixed.”– Susan Dyer

Susan Dyer, Certified EOS® Implementer, and host Tim Leman dive into EOS and the edge it provides to entrepreneurs. From her years of leadership and coaching experience, Susan discusses the evolution of a leadership team and the common obstacles they encounter. She also talks about the importance of delegating, the power of listening, and why leaders need to make time for other passions outside of work.

“77% of your effectiveness as a leader is a function of who you are, not what you do.”– Tim Spiker

Tim Spiker, founder of The Aperio, joins host Tim Leman to discuss leadership development. Through his leadership advising, podcast, and book, Tim focuses on the who of leadership, helping leaders to become inwardly sound and others focused. In this episode, Tim also talks about the powerful combination of humility & confidence, what makes for a strong team, and his edge in life.

“You are who you surround yourself with. The mentors you have are the direction you are going to go.” – Mike Baer

Mike Baer, President of Trench-Ade, joins host Tim Leman to discuss the importance of relationships - with customers, employees, mentors, and personally. He talks about building an organization that has a strong sense of integrity. Mike also shares about his own leadership journey and his vision for the future, both personally and professionally.

“When we spend our time pouring in and lifting up, results will come.” – Andrea Butcher

Andrea Butcher, CEO of HRD*, discusses her passion for leadership development and helping others build their vision. She talks about equipping leaders & creating an environment for people to be successful. Andrea and host Tim Leman also explore how they have applied lessons and experiences from their leadership journeys to their families and personal relationships - as well as a few fun memories from their days together at Indiana State.

We’re Going Dancing. Those are the three words every NCAA Division I basketball player and coach dreams of yelling.

Why is it everyone's dream?

• Only sixty-eight of the 358 NCAA D1 teams punch their ticket to The Big Dance (NCAA Tournament) each year
• Only 19% of men and women college basketball student-athletes will make it to The Big Dance each year
• Only ~1.5% of all high school boys’ and girls’ basketball student-athletes make it to the NCAA DI level each year
• Only ~0.2% of all high school boys’ and girls’ basketball student athletes will ever experience The Big Dance as a player

The numbers are not in your favor, which is why shouting the words "We're Going Dancing" is a dream!

In 2017, our men's basketball team at The University of North Dakota accomplished that dream for the first time in school history and I had the opportunity to shout those three special words!

Here are a few themes from that special season which we held tightly to, and I believe any team can learn from – sports, business, or otherwise.

I’ve seen the same hairstylist for a few years and as a result, occasionally my haircuts turn into a free therapy session. (You know how it goes, you go in for a haircut and some how you’re confessing your biggest problems to a relative stranger while awkwardly looking at your reflection in the mirror...)

During a recent “therapy session” we were discussing my cut and style options. The conversation led to my usual comment of “Well, if only it was longer, I would do this …” My stylist looked at me and replied sincerely “Your hair is on a journey. Let’s stop trying to get here or there, and just appreciate where it is right now.”

She may have been talking about my hair, but we both knew she was alluding to something much bigger.

We’re back with a new season of The Edge Podcast!

Host Tim Leman dives into the real stories of incredible leaders who have found their edge and owned it.

Strong, vibrant corporate cultures create the foundation of every successful organization. At the core of those successful cultures is a business’s most valuable asset, its people. Culture sets organizations apart from their competition. It shapes environments where people thrive and do their best work. As a leader, you understand the importance of building and maintaining a positive corporate culture. CEOs and executive teams are the organizational visionaries who create the vision, mission, values and principles a company is built on. The biggest challenge these executives face? Ensuring that the vision cast by executive leaders is successfully implemented.

We believe that successful implementation of corporate vision and culture falls to mid-level managers. The secret to long-term organizational success is investing in those leaders and ensuring they evangelize your corporate culture through example. Let’s explore the tools and resources your mid-level managers need to succeed in implementing a great corporate culture.

It was August 2021 and I’d spent the last 6 months fully diving into my new role with Gibson. I was attending ALL the networking events, cocktail hours, community dinners, and golf outings I could.

Each time I would look around and note the amount of other women in the room. In case you were wondering, it was never as many as the men.

Throwback Thursday: Tom Peters' The Excellence Dividend provides a business case for leaders putting their people first. But what does it mean for employers to REALLY put their people first?

It’s said that most adults will spend one third of their life at work. That’s roughly 90,000 hours! Putting it in these terms provides a different context in which to view the employer-employee relationship.

Author Tom Peters says leaders need to accept responsibility for the role they play in employees’ lives. “Every leader has a moral obligation [today] to develop people so that when they leave, they are better prepared for tomorrow than when they arrived,” writes Peters.

That’s heavy. I care about our people a lot. I think about the 150+ families relying on our leaders to make good decisions with the best interest of our team at heart. Yet “moral obligation” is an even larger burden. And you know what? He’s right. We owe that to our team.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

When asked to write this blog, I wondered what value I could add to the blogging world... “A blog on empathy in the workplace!” For me, this was a natural reaction, because it’s a natural feeling. It is not natural for everyone, and that’s okay. The world is a melting pot, as it should be, and that is what makes the world work. Maybe you are confused on what empathy really is? Maybe you’ve been misinformed that there is no room for empathy in the workplace – when in fact, we need to make a little more room.

Empathy is fellow feeling. It is a tool to connect to someone on an interpersonal level; it can offer hope and healing on a deeper level. Being able to get to this place allows you to suspend judgment, feelings, opinions, anger, and resentment. It is the ability to temporarily suspend your own opinions, to truly walk a mile in someone’s shoes.

1. How They Gather And Share Information

When faced with a new work project, there is a certain type of employee who will instinctively need to know anything and everything about the project. This team member will have questions…and lots of them. When you use this team member’s strengths efficiently, they will find facts like it’s their superpower.

Of course, if every employee acted this way all the time, you’d never get anything fully done, because there will always be more questions to ask, facts to find. So, it’s important to know which employees will naturally wade through all that information, get the “gist” (a few bullet points, maybe), then move on.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed team victories more than individual accomplishments. What’s the point of doing “it” if you can’t share the experience with others?

As much as I enjoy blogging, hosting The Edge Podcast and getting the opportunity to talk with leaders about their journeys has been a great experience! Teams, hard work, collaboration, sacrifice, family - we have hit on so many topics and I know I've learned a lot from these episodes - I hope you have, too! 

Let's celebrate our most popular podcast episodes of 2022:

It has been nearly 10 years since my first leadership blog. In the past decade, I've written over 150 posts and we've collaborated with hundreds of guest bloggers to bring you a diverse collection of leadership insights. As each year comes to a close, I enjoy reflecting on the lessons, experiences, and stories shared.

Let's take a look at our most popular blogs of 2022:

Last night took a L, but tonight I bounce back. Wake up every morning, by the night, I count stacks. ~ Big Sean, “Bounce Back”

After graduating from a renowned Swiss university, the great Albert Einstein could only secure a job that was well below his abilities in a patent office. During this time he also had a child out of wedlock with a girlfriend his family seriously did not like. It's been said his father died believing Albert was a complete failure. 

Yet the patent job exposed him to all kinds of ideas and helped develop in him a healthy skepticism to challenge conventional thinking. Additionally, the limited burdens of the role left him with ample time to experiment and explore his interests.

What if young Einstein’s path had been different? Would he have become the genius who transformed what the world thinks about physics?

Flashback Friday: My team often hears me bring up the Stockdale Paradox. Ever since I read about Admiral Stockdale in Jim Collin's book, the lesson of pragmatic optimism has stuck with me. 

It was from Jim Collins’ masterpiece Good To Great that I learned Admiral James Stockdale was something other than Ross Perot’s running mate in the 1992 presidential election. Long before he was a target of Saturday Night Live’s irreverent humor, Stockdale was the highest ranking naval officer to be held as a POW in Vietnam.

After Stockdale's A-4 Skyhawk was shot down over North Vietnam in 1965, he shared space at the “Hanoi Hilton” with, among others, John McCain. He was brutally beaten, starved, and denied medical care, never knowing if he would survive or see his family again, until his release in 1973.

Stockdale and his wife Sybil shared their story by writing alternating chapters in the book In Love and War. Collins, in preparing to meet Admiral Stockdale, read his book, describing it as bleak and depressing, even though he knew that Stockdale got out and reunited with his family. When Collins asked Stockdale what it felt like living the story and not knowing how it ended, he replied:

As we celebrate the season of giving, let’s take a look back at a few podcast guests from the nonprofit sector.

These leaders and their teams are dedicated to making an impact in our communities each and every day. The lessons they share from their leadership journeys can help inspire us all, regardless of our industry or role.

Be it personally or professionally, all relationships need nurturing. Trust, communication, consistency - these are all important aspects of cultivating positive relationships.

Is it possible for every single person at your company to be a leader? The short answer is yes, of course. But, not all companies nurture this type of work environment.

When someone talks about a natural-born leader, they are generally referring to people who have an innate disposition to act. In other words, someone who “gets the job done.” But many companies overlook the fact that everyone has the capacity to lead. Being a leader doesn’t mean you’re always first, always best, always on top, or always right. It just means that you’re someone who has a propensity toward action. Leaders are people who are compelled to act.

How can you draw out a desire for action in every single person in your workforce? It’s simple: give everyone opportunities to lead. When each person is given a chance to act, to decide, to collaborate, and, ultimately, to own their positions – they will thrive, and so will your company.

Flashback Friday: The call for courageous leadership has gone out - how will you answer?

Anchored by a Just Cause, infinite games require courageous leadership. According to author Simon Sinek that means being willing to stand up to internal and external pressure to conform, in order to stay true to your cause.

One of the fundamental principles of modern design, argued most prevalently by the great Milanese graphic designer Bruno Munari, remains intact: Modern design discards aesthetic beauty in an abstract sense in favor of formal coherence. In other words – and as any first-year design student has heard ad nauseum by now – form follows function. The reason this principle persists in the art world is because it is an elementary observation of the natural world in which we are embedded and to which we are subservient.

Munari’s visionary 1966 work Design As Art is a timeless classic of the art and design genre, and held dear by many designers across a number of industries. What might not be self-evident while reading it, however, is its crossover application to the leadership discipline. What do the practices of design and leadership hold in common with one another? Is there any correlation to be made? The question begs a close analysis of Munari’s masterpiece through the lens of leadership.

What makes you unique?

I believe we all have God-given talents and abilities that are uniquely ours. I came across an analogy the other day that we are all different machines, built for different purposes. One person may be a pickup truck, while someone else may be a sports car, minivan, or maybe even a motorcycle.

Each vehicle serves a distinct purpose. A Prius may not be able to haul a boat like an F-150 but it’s a great car for a cross-country road trip. And you may not see many minivans on the Autobahn, but they make for great family vehicles. The problem comes when we expect a machine to do something it wasn’t built to do. If we expect a motorcycle to act like a truck, everyone ends up frustrated and the job doesn’t get done.

What makes a team great? How do you build a truly special team? How do you keep yourself and your team motivated? What gives leaders their edge?

Throughout the three seasons of The Edge Podcast, host Tim Leman has enjoyed digging into these topics with leaders across the country, including several from his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Our guests from The Summit City shared valuable insights on hard work, collaboration, family, and more.

“Always remember that when you’re pointing your finger at someone, you’ve got three pointing back at yourself.”

This is an adage I can vividly remember hearing at a young age, repeatedly. One time in particular, we were standing in line at the Kroger – my brother, mom, and myself – and mom was once again teaching me not to stare and point at the other patrons standing around us. Apparently, I had quite the tendency to do so, and it’s clear my boys have inherited that from me as well. It’s a good thing mom had to teach me this lesson so much; I have many moments from which to draw on to now be the teacher.

Flashback Friday: Attitude and effort is still what it is all about. Give this popular 2018 blog a read. Are you being open minded and giving your best effort? 

About a year into my tenure at Gibson, I was named to the Leadership Team and responsible for our revenue and growth in a “Chief Growth Officer” role. Not only was I new to Gibson, I previously had no technical knowledge or career experience in two of our three business units. Before my first major meeting with our group, I was already hearing the whispers about this newly created role and my (lack of) qualifications to be in it.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger, Chris Naylor, EOS Implementer and  Business Coach. We hope you enjoy Chris’ wisdom and perspective.

Do you have too much on your plate? Feeling overwhelmed and unfocused at work? Juggling too many priorities?

If so, now’s the time to schedule a Clarity Break! If you’re not doing them, you’re at a disadvantage – possibly missing opportunities to reach your full potential.

A Clarity Break™  is a regularly scheduled appointment on your calendar with yourself to work ON your business. Clarity Breaks allow you to clear your head, envision the future, think strategically, and focus on what’s most important.

“The true price of leadership is the willingness to place the needs of others above your own. Great leaders genuinely care about those they are privileged to lead and understand that the true cost of the leadership privilege comes at the expense of self-interest.” – Simon Sinek, Leaders Eat Last

This is from one of my favorite books. It hits on the critical importance of personal sacrifice and its role in leadership.

Modern employees are tired of command and control management. They are looking for flexibility, personal growth, purpose, and a different lifestyle. And it's not just the younger generation. 

We must lead this workforce differently. But how?

Flashback Friday: A popular blog post from 2020 with a message that is just as important today. Is your organization playing the infinite game? What is your Just Cause?

“The true value of an organization is measured by the desire others have to contribute to that organization’s ability to keep succeeding, not just during the time they are there, but well beyond their own tenure.” - Simon Sinek, The Infinite Game

In 2009’s Start With Why, author Simon Sinek makes the point that all organizations and individuals have a “Why.” It’s our origin story, the reason we do what we do.

Why is our purpose, cause, or belief. Our purpose comes from our past. It’s born out of how we were raised and the values we were exposed to.

And, according to Sinek, it’s far more important than how you do it or what you deliver. As he often says, “People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.”

Every quarter, our employees meet with their manager to address two very basic questions:

1. What's working?
2. What's not working? 

These questions may not seem like much on the surface. But after thinking through them quarter after quarter, I’ve started to realize just how powerful they can be.

We’ve all heard the clichés:

Construction industry participants face exposure to risks arising from the professional services that are required to design and construct a particular project. Professional liability insurance is a common tool used by contractors and designers to transfer risks from errors and omissions in the provision of professional services to third party insurers in exchange for payment of the policy premium. For design professionals these policies provide coverage for losses arising out of errors and omissions in professional design services such as those that result in the development of plans and specifications, as well as those arising from defective contract administration and consulting. Contractors purchase these policies to provide coverage largely to cover exposures from defective construction management.

Today's post is authored by guest blogger Jay Mattern, CEO of Villing+Company and TerraFirma Marketing. We hope you enjoy Jay’s leadership wisdom and insight.

Flashback Friday: I know my parents don't love this story, but it is one of our most popular blogs and the experience taught me some valuable lessons. 

“You know it’s illegal what they’re doing. Making you work and all,” said Larry’s mom. Larry and his family lived next door to my family growing up. He and I were typical neighborhood buddies. While Larry and I liked all the same things boys our age typically did, our parents were anything but similar.

As my 6^th grade year was coming to an end, my Dad made it known that it was time for me to “go to work.” I would have my choice of working around the house every day of my summer break doing various chores, for free; or I could find someone willing to pay me. But either way, I’d be working forty hours per week.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Nancy Owsianowski, Founder of RoundTable Consulting, LLC. We hope you enjoy Nancy’s wisdom and perspective.

What’s getting lost in translation within your organization or between your organization and others? Effective communication is the backbone of a high-performance organization. Statistics reported by Pumble indicate that more than three-quarters of employees and executives attribute workplace failures to a lack of effective communications. Similarly, when teams communicate effectively, productivity could increase by as much as 25%. Onsite, hybrid and remote working options place new demands on everyday communications. In addition, five distinct generations are now present and active in the workforce and need to collaborate.

Take a close look at your own organization. Are your habits of communication building bridges for collaboration and trust or creating barriers that fragment your company culture and undermine mutual respect?

The most common question I encounter daily is “How are you?” Typically, my response centers around being busy.

What does it mean to "live abundantly" in business and how do we take ownership of this mindset? There’s no shortage of information on what "living abundantly" means from a spiritual or philosophical perspective (22.7 million search results on Google) and specifically what it means in different faith traditions. However, the phrase takes on a bit of mystery when  reappropriated for the world of work.

It begins with humility and gratitude in knowing that we’re fortunate and empowered to attract opportunities and realize our potential. However, with current scarcity of resources whether through labor shortages, rising costs, or supply backlogs, it can be challenging to find pathways toward living abundantly in business.

At Gibson, our core values provide guideposts around what it means to live abundantly and how to take ownership of the mindset. Let's review some of these to get a better grasp on the idea of abundance in business and how it's applied within our organization.

The American Burn Association advises us to "leave the show to the pros” as we approach fireworks' highest selling holiday, but if you are planning to indulge in fireworks this coming Fourth of July, it is in your best interest to be aware of the safety precautions. The following are a few safety tips to be taken into consideration when handling highly dangerous explosives such as fireworks.

Flashback Friday: Do The Right Thing is still a value we live by at Gibson. Give this popular blog from 2014 a read. Does integrity “live” at your organization and in your relationships?

One of our Core Values is: Integrity Matters - Always Do the Right Thing. It seems elementary to ask why integrity matters. The answers are all too obvious, right? Yet all too often there are examples of integrity issues in our world, in business and in our personal affairs.

I checked out a few dictionaries online and they define integrity as: The quality of being honest and fair; the state of being complete or whole; an adherence to moral and ethical principles; to be honest and have sound moral character.

One of my partners, Mark Wobbe, pointed me to another website that offers a simple formula to define integrity:

Integrity = (Accountability + Competence + Ethics) – Corruption

“The common thread [of great teams] is tenacity and willingness to compete, but also the expectation of excellence.” – Chris Camacho

Chris Camacho, President & CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, shares stories of leadership and teamwork from his years of athletic and economic development experience, noting the parallels between high-performing sports teams and business. Chris and host Tim Leman also talk about cultivating leaders and the expectation of excellence.

“You can't predict what people are going to do, you just have to be able to respond in the most appropriate way you can.” – Vikki Scarafiotti

Vikki Scarafiotti joins host Tim Leman for a conversation about developing your people, the power of great mentors, and the importance of being prepared for the unexpected. Vikki shares leadership and team development stories from her extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, as well as invaluable advice for those serving on nonprofit boards.

Do the right thing. That phrase seems obvious, right?!? And generally, it is. There is a common set of rules most of us tend to live by: treat others the way you want to be treated; act with integrity; conduct your business and personal life in an ethical way. That’s the easy stuff. Oftentimes, this concept is listed as a core value, or within the mission/purpose of an organization.

We’re wrapping up the third season of The Edge Podcast with two final episodes.

In these episodes, host Tim Leman continues to talk with leaders about what it’s like to ride the edge and own it. He also digs into what makes for a truly special team.

Flashback Friday: This is our most read blog of all-time. Even though it was written in 2014, the qualities discussed are just as important to teams today. When this was written, I was celebrating 17 years with my best teammate, Kimra. Next week it will be 25! Happy Anniversary, Kimra!

We are committed to teaming at Gibson. Perhaps more than any other firm in our industry.

• We have a teamed relationship for client service delivery.
• We have an executive leadership team with very clear roles for each member.
• About five years ago we went against years of legacy and tradition to change our typical “lone wolf” salesperson model into multi-person risk advisory teams complete with a shared compensation model. Talk about breaking China!

Building an effective team isn’t so easy. Good teams have a sum that is greater than the individual pieces. This requires that egos are set aside to allow the entity of the team to be greater than any one member. By putting everyone on the team in a position to do what they do best, high achievement is possible. I find no coincidence that since evolving to the team model, we’ve also had the best growth in our eighty year history.

So what are the top qualities of an effective team player? I consulted the For Dummies to learn what great teammates do differently than others.

“You have to first identify good talent, then put them in the right position to succeed.”

– Jason Corley

Jason Corley joins host Tim Leman in a discussion about the healthcare industry and how organizations like CIC are taking a different approach to create a better healthcare experience for patients and physicians, while also lowering the cost of care. Jason also talks about the importance of finding the right cultural fit, especially when your team is geographically diverse, as well as the role leaders can have in helping employees grow and develop.

“You have to first identify good talent, then put them in the right position to succeed.” – Jason Corley

Jason Corley joins host Tim Leman in a discussion about the healthcare industry and how organizations like CIC are taking a different approach to create a better healthcare experience for patients and physicians, while also lowering the cost of care. Jason also talks about the importance of finding the right cultural fit, especially when your team is geographically diverse, as well as the role leaders can have in helping employees grow and develop.

Ex-pe-ri-ence.
noun
an event or occurrence that leaves an impression on someone

What kind of experience are you creating for those around you?

How often do we think about this question? It’s so easy to fall into the daily routine of work - every morning we come in, turn on our computers, and start checking tasks off of our to-do lists.

But how often do we step back and think about the experience we’re creating along the way?

“If you don't have great people, you're not going to do great work.” – Mendy Werne

Mendy Werne, CEO of BLASTmedia, shares about her efforts to stay connected with employees and maintain company culture through rapid growth. She and Tim also talk about what makes for a strong leadership team including knowing your roles, holding each other accountable, and a strong level of trust and respect.

“Leadership is about vision and direction. Management is about execution and accountability. A leader should be able to do both.” – Jeff Terrill

Jeff Terrill and host Tim Leman discuss recent trends in healthcare and what Marathon Health is doing to innovate for the industry's future. They dig into what it means to rally a team around a mission and a purpose. Jeff also discusses the difference between leadership and management, as well as what it takes to transform a group of people into a great team.

Ready for more of The Edge Podcast? 

We have 3 more episodes to share with you! In these episodes, host Tim Leman continues to talk with leaders about what it’s like to ride the edge and own it. He also digs into what makes for a truly special team.

Tune in as we discuss leading on the edge!

Even if you are not located in the Midwest, you are likely aware of the recent change in the coaching staff for the University of Notre Dame football program. If not, after 11 seasons under the Golden Dome, Brian Kelly left for a new opportunity at LSU. This prompted the Irish to name Defensive Coordinator Marcus Freeman as the 31st head coach in school history.

Shortly after the news broke, Freeman was repeatedly referred to as a "player's coach” by the media and fans alike.

At his introductory press conference, Coach Freeman addressed this description directly. He stated the following:

“Accountability breeds response-ability.” – Stephen Covey

What is accountability? The dictionary defines it as the state or quality of being accountable. It is the decision to be responsible for your actions and your work within your team and company.

Let’s break this down in real terms...
Accountability means you follow through and do what you say you are going to do. You don’t make excuses or blame others.

As a leader, I lean heavily on Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions Of A Team. He describes how many teams avoid accountability. It creates a ripple effect. They don’t trust each other and as a result won’t discuss matters honestly. They fail to hold each other to a standard of accountability. In this environment, the team’s work becomes unfocused, their energy dissipates, and things fall apart.

“I think good leaders are good simplifiers.” – Larry Weigand

Larry Weigand discusses being the fourth generation of a family business and his role as CEO of the company started by his great grandfather. Together he and host Tim Leman talk about grit, tenacity, and hard work. Larry also explains the importance of simplifying business and doing what you say you're going to do. 

Check out this episode of The Edge Podcast:

“You never want to stifle people trying to make a play because that’s how you get great outcomes.” – Quentin Messer

Quentin Messer is the CEO of Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). He discusses with host Tim Leman how the pandemic has brought a greater focus on place and what that means for not only economic development organizations like MEDC, but for all businesses and each of us personally. They talk about the unique perspectives women bring to his leadership team and how he's worked to create trust on a team of forceful personalities, as well the importance of keeping family at the forefront.

Check out this episode of The Edge Podcast:

“Being a CEO made me a better basketball coach and being a girls JV basketball coach made me a better CEO.” – Don Cates

Don Cates and host Tim Leman explore lessons learned from Don's childhood on a farm and his leadership journey in the financial industry. Don talks about how the pandemic has challenged his organization, and all of us, to become adaptable and flexible. The two also discuss how Don coaching women's basketball has translated to professional insights and a philosophy that embraces diversity of thought. Additionally, the conversation includes how being intentional about time, choice, and scheduling encourages productivity.

Check out this episode of The Edge Podcast:

Initiative: taking ownership of your decision-making process, acting without being told, pressing on when things get tough, and taking advantage of opportunities that others pass by.

I was a freshman on my college volleyball team and had been recruited to be either a setter or a defensive specialist. I had always been a setter, and I loved that position. The setter on a volleyball team is often attributed to being the quarterback of the court. We get to make the play calls, decide who gets the ball, be involved in every play, and make changes to the play design as we see fit. I love the strategy involved in being the setter.

“It's interesting that COVID has absolutely changed the landscape for employee benefits in that it's not about cost, it's actually about the employees.” – Dr. Eric Bricker

Together with host Tim Leman, Dr. Eric Bricker talks about his journey, which has included hospital finance, M.D., healthcare navigation, telehealth, and more. They discuss entrepreneurship in the healthcare industry, leadership, and the role of virtual care in a world stricken with the pandemic.

Check out this episode of The Edge Podcast:

We’re excited to introduce a third season of The Edge Podcast!

In this season, host Tim Leman continues to talk with leaders about what it’s like to ride the edge and own it. He also digs into what makes for a truly special team.

Tune in as we discuss leading on the edge!

Michiganders, this one's for you: As we approach two years since the new auto insurance reform went into effect in the state of Michigan, average insurance rates have decreased. While the topic of cost savings—which came out of the July 2020 revamp—should be acknowledged, the implication on protection needs to be noted.

Flashback Friday: Originally published in 2013, this blog is crowd favorite and one of my personal favorites - lessons from my now 98 year old grandma. Next month she'll celebrate her 99th birthday!

With Grandparent’s Day on Sunday, I want to honor my last living grandparent, ninety year old Dorothy Gerber. Not only is Grandma Dorothy an amazing woman, she also is officially the biggest and most devoted fan of my blog.

She devotedly commented on my first ever stab at blogging. It was entitled “Defining and Living Core Beliefs” from January 30, 2013. Using her original free Juno email handle from the early 1990s, she found her way to my site and then posted this: “Good job Tim. I am proud of you and Gibson.”

Definition of emptying the tank (phrase)
1: To contribute, expend, or put forth the utmost of one’s effort, ability, and/or energy.
2: To make the utmost effort; to contribute to the absolute limit of one’s energy and abilities.
3: Give one’s all, go all out, go for broke, pull out all the stops.

Are you emptying the tank in your faith, family, marriage, work, and relationships? If you’re not, do you find yourself in moments of regret?

Motivational speaker and author Jim Rohn states “we must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.”

I venture to believe that this thinking isn’t new to you. That you’ve either shared or received words of encouragement as it relates to providing maximum effort at work, in a task, on a project, or within your relationships. But I want to challenge you to empty your tank.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Ron Kitchens, CEO of Birmingham Business Alliance and member of the Gibson Board of Advisors. We hope you enjoy Ron’s wisdom and perspective.

Sure, there are problems; yes, there are obstacles; but the future is bright and with hard work, we can accomplish some great things. - Jim Tressel

These days, it seems that not a day goes by that someone does not ask me for my opinion on the future and what it is going to take to achieve greatness. I am reminded of something Kathy Caulton once said, "When you are looking into the future, it's important to know which questions to ask. You don't need to ask, 'Do I have what it takes to be successful?' The answer to that is a resounding 'YES!' The key question is, 'Am I willing to pay the price for the success I desire?'"

I believe we all have a choice. We can either languish in the past or use the past to spring into the future; but you cannot do both. As Ms. Caulton said, we must choose and we must be willing to pay the price for our choices.

Flashback Friday: Originally published in 2017, this blog is one of our most popular and still very relevant today. I've seen many people share recently about the books they read in 2021 and what they hope to read in 2022. I hope this blog gives you a few ideas as you complete your must-read list for the new year!

There are plenty of book lists out there. This post is a little different. While I’ve got examples of specific books for you, more importantly I want to emphasize the kind of books you should read. As Japanese author Haruki Murakami has written, “If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.”

I have always been pretty outgoing, an “I” on the DiSC, a cheerleader of all things. Networking has come easy to me. I actually seek out opportunities for human connection. You want to have coffee – name the place! I am there ready to make a new friend.

There is a wonderful culture of comradery at Gibson and as we launched our rebrand in 2020, the tagline Own Your Edge arose. It’s not just lip service either. Gibson provides the team an assortment of tools that dig into your own personal leadership style, mentoring, and development. Finding and owning your edge had now become something bigger to me—I was on a mission to dig in even deeper. Allowing the phrase, we worked so hard to establish, to guide my personal and professional decisions. So, the journey began.

“Some things are up to us and others are not.” – The Enchiridion

The ancient Stoics taught that we own only our choice of thoughts and actions. Everything else – the externals – remain outside of our own doing.

That means we have way more agency in who and what we are than we tell ourselves. While its not within our power to determine the outcomes, our choice of inputs most definitely are.

Traditionally this is the time when I highlight the top 10 blogs of the year, but in 2021 we introduced something brand new – The Edge Podcast! So, this year, let’s celebrate both our top blogs AND our top podcast episodes.

If you can't write the next line, well, you're dead. The past doesn't matter. - Charles Bukowski, Author

Everyone has a story. And they’re all unfinished.

Many people seem stuck in a moment, re-reading the old chapters of their book. Some bask in a glory that no one cares about anymore. Others can’t get past the tragedies, challenges, and slights still lingering in their heads. All represent stories from lives lived and lessons learned, but they are from the past.

What matters more is the chapter you’re writing right now, today. And those chapters still unwritten.

"I look for people who are going to think of things and see things differently, but also work as a team. This is a team sport.” – Scott Lewis

Scott Lewis, President and CEO at YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, joins Tim for this episode. Growing up in the Y family since age 6, Scott shares his unique perspective on the YMCA, nonprofits, and his leadership roles. He also talks to us about building a great team and the importance of open communication.

"It’s not just the skill sets, but it’s the personality traits that really make a great team.” – Andrew Berlin

Tim talks with Andrew Berlin about building a great team by recruiting for character. Andrew keeps busy by being the Chairman and Owner of South Bend Cubs, partner and shareholder of the Chicago Cubs, and the Managing Director of Shield AI. In this episode, he highlights the importance of character and integrity. Andrew shares with us some of the great teams he's been on, and what about that team made it so great. Hint: hiring for a person's character can be more important than what you see on a person's resume. Listen now!

“Surround yourself with people that complement you, not compliment you.” – Cindy Salas Murphy

Cindy Salas Murphy, CEO of WithHealth, discusses why you need to surround yourself with the right people and how culture drives an organization. She and Tim also talk about the importance of embracing transparency, curiosity, and positivity.

Being around a lot of founder friends in YPO, I’ve heard stories about #startuplife but there’s nothing like experiencing it firsthand! I got a small dose of it over the past year as my wife and I started a small lake rental & property management business.

There were more than a few twists and turns, even while only sitting in what EOS would call the Owner’s Box. I now realize why my YPO mates often bucket us non-founder CEOs as those “running their family business” or a “hired gun.”

It’s not that a hired gun (like me when I started at Gibson) or the next generation of leadership at a family business has it easy. We face all kinds of unique challenges that founders do not! Yet, starting something from scratch is an entirely different undertaking. For mature companies, the pain and excitement of startup life comes when launching a new product or opening a new market.

"ESOPs are a unique structure that can really bring alignment and unite the culture." – Chris Fredericks

Chris Fredericks, of Empowered Ventures and TVF, joins Tim to discuss what it's like leading an employee-owned company. He shares what it means to be an ESOP, how he strives to foster strong employee-owned cultures, and what it takes to build a strong leadership team.

“When a door opens, walk through it. Seldom does it slam shut.” – Dr. Deborah Curtis

Dr. Deborah Curtis, President of Indiana State University, joins Tim to discuss her leadership experiences, the secret sauce to a strong & cohesive team, and the role gratitude plays in her life. You'll also hear stories of how leadership, diversity, and empowerment are making an impact at Indiana State.

Have you ever felt like you're on the edge of something great? You've put in the work, you've done the hard stuff most people aren't willing to do, and now you can just sense a magical run lies ahead.

In this season, we continue to talk with leaders and learn what it's like to ride that edge and own it. We dig into what makes for a truly special team.

Join host Tim Leman as we discuss leading on the edge with 5 new episodes!

There’s been a lot of talk about the future of work over the last 18 months. With so many companies going fully remote and others shifting to new business models, it’s easy to get caught up in questions like “how many days should we be in the office?”

But the future of work is about much more than where we get our work done. The future of work starts and ends with the employee experience. It’s no longer enough to offer competitive pay and a nice benefits package – those are expected. Employees are demanding more of their organizations.

“Nothing gives a person a better sense of both comfort and empowerment than to know someone else trusts them.” – Bill Manns

Bill Manns, President & CEO of Bronson Healthcare Group, joins Tim to discuss how he strives to empower his team. They dig into the importance of building a strong & cohesive leadership team, because as Bill shares, "dysfunction at the highest level of the organization creates dysfunction throughout the remainder of the organization."

“I think a lot of life is being coachable and surrounding yourself with friends who are willing to confront you, even when it’s not comfortable.” – Eric Doden

In this episode, Tim sits down with Eric Doden to discuss his passion for economic development and regionalism. They talk about the importance of alignment and accountability across team members, as well as how the combination of character, chemistry, and competency make for a powerful team.

“Figure out how to take little pieces of opportunity and put them into something special.” – John Wortman

John Wortman, Co-Founder & CEO of Valeo Financial Advisors, makes his podcasting debut. John and Tim discuss growing a team, the evolution of a leader, and the importance of communication and being on the same page.

Check out this episode of The Edge Podcast:

“Every decision is a learning experience.” – Tony Hutti

In this episode, Tim talks with Tony Hutti about the power of peer groups. Tony is the CEO of Renaissance Executive Forums has almost 50 years of leadership and management experience. He shares how being vulnerable is crucial to being a good leader and why we should have the mindset of taking everything as a learning experience.

Ask someone who has been on a great team what made it so special. You’ll hear about a group of diversely talented people who knew their role and were playing for something bigger than themselves.

If you dig a little deeper, you’ll also likely learn there was a “favorite coach” who really “got them” and in turn got the most out of them. Some might even go as far as to say they were playing for their coach, not wanting to let them down.

It’s a key reminder that who you are and how you act as a leader will have a tremendous impact on the success of your team. You may not be able to win without great talent, but you coul singlehandedly be the cause of a loss.

So, what’s the makeup of a great coach?

“I am passionate about living in a very transparent and vulnerable way.” – Tiffany Sauder

Tiffany Sauder, CEO of Element Three, joins Tim to discuss her leadership journey. She shares how she's had to make the shift from ambition to leadership, her role in training decision-making, the importance of leading through the lens of your values, and more.

Introducing the second season of The Edge Podcast!

Have you ever felt like you're on the edge of something great? You've put in the work, you've done the hard stuff most people aren't willing to do, and now you can just sense a magical run lies ahead.

In this season, we continue to talk with leaders and learn what it's like to ride that edge and own it. We dig into what makes for a truly special team.

Join host Tim Leman as we discuss leading on the edge!

Passion: noun: strong and barely controllable emotion.

To fulfill our purpose on this planet, we must acknowledge and fuel the internal flame that lies within. Once we stoke the fire, we are able to embrace the power we have over our own transformation, success, and happiness. I believe passion is the key to unlocking our purpose.

If you haven’t stepped into your calling yet, it can be intimidating. Our mentors and peers can make living theirs out look so easy.

One of the most meaningful things I’ve learned – and been able to refine for myself over the past few years – is the value of spending most of my time doing things that align with my unique abilities.

Dan Sullivan, founder of Strategic Coach, writes that unique abilities are “the essence of what we love to do, and also do best.” They are the ways we “naturally strive” as they call attention to what “motivates and fulfills us” as humans.

Author Pat Lencioni, after years of writing books on leadership and team dynamics, created an assessment tool called Working Genius. Similar to the thinking behind Sullivan’s Unique Ability, Lencioni’s assessment is for understanding our “God-given gifts… the things that [we’re] great at and love doing.”

“Ideally we should spend as much time as possible doing those things,” commented Lencioni in a recent Chief Executive article.

How do you define joy?

Many people confuse happiness and joy. Happiness is dependent upon external circumstances … Joy comes from within.

Who in your life exudes joy? What type of characteristics do they possess? Are they born that way, or do they work to find joy in their journey?

Naturally, as life progresses, we will cross paths with more and more individuals. Each person unique in their own way, highlighted by a wide range of attention grabbing (and worthy) items; the road to a successful career, the impact of supportive parents, an experience abroad, the hardships of life, the list goes on. Each one with a story that’s worth being told, but most importantly a story worth being heard.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Ryan Henry, Certified EOS Implementer™. We hope you enjoy Ryan’s wisdom and perspective.

A company’s Core Focus™ answers two questions: ‘Why do we exist?’ and ‘What are we better at than anyone else?’ When combined, they help an entrepreneurial leadership team find their sweet spot and create a filter for making all decisions.

What makes answering these two questions essential right now is that entrepreneurs are constantly creating new ideas, seeking new opportunities, finding out about new products, meeting new potential clients, and wanting to solve all kinds of problems. This is why we need entrepreneurs more than ever and why I love working with them: so we can change and help the world! I really believe that.

The problem is, like Patrick Lencioni says, ‘When everything is important, nothing is important.’ So entrepreneurs and their leadership teams must take the time to work ‘on’ their business and think, debate, discuss – argue even – to fight to find their ‘sweet spot’, and then stay laser-focused on it, hitting it every time. Otherwise, they will chase the wrong shiny objects with no focus, no discipline, and no accountability.

“You have to be comfortable being uncomfortable.” – Amish Shah

Amish Shah, CEO of Kem Krest, joins Tim for this episode. Amish discusses how he builds his team for the future and the importance of a resilient leader. He digs into his role of creating and cascading the vision, as well as empowering his team. Tune in and hear Amish and Tim talk about diversity, Kem Krest's moonshot, and more.

“Be resourceful with people. If you’ve got talent on your team…stretch them, put them into something different.” – Chad Hartzell

Chad Hartzell, Executive Director of Talent & Organizational Development at Beacon Health System, joins Tim to share his HR insights. In this episode, Chad discusses the diversity, equity, and inclusion journey his organization has been on. He also encourages leaders to challenge the traditional spectrum of HR. Listen to Chad share what gives him his edge in life, the importance of trust and feedback on a team, and more.

Legendary 49ers football coach Bill Walsh coined the term Success Disease to describe the overconfidence and arrogance that often follow an initial level of personal and organizational achievement. Walsh described it as a sense that, “We’ve mastered it; we’ve figured it out; we’re golden.”

“But the gold can tarnish quickly,” he added. “Mastery requires endless remastery. In fact, I don’t believe there is ever-true mastery. It is a process, not a destination.”

Walsh learned this firsthand in 1982 as his team only won a third of its games after being crowned Super Bowl Champions just one year earlier.

Businesses face the same challenge. Prevailing wisdom says Success Disease can be battled by setting and managing the right goals. While goals can provide direction and short-term motivation, they have much less to do with our results than the habits and systems we follow.

“The beauty is in the simplicity.” – Jimmy Rayford

Jimmy Rayford, CEO of Dealers Wholesale, joins Tim for this episode. They discuss the structure and impact EOS provides for their organizations, as well as the beauty of its simplicity and tools. They also dig into what it means to build a balanced team. Tune in and hear Jimmy's professional and personal insights, his edge in life, and more.

“80% and out in the world is better than 100% and still in your head.”

These words slapped me in the face as I was sharing a status update on a project, noting that I still needed to put in quite a bit of time and effort before it was ready to roll out. In my mind, it wasn’t anywhere close. I wanted it to be absolutely perfect and there was still so much to be done.

So, when I was told that it was “good enough,” I was appalled. Clearly, they didn’t see all of the flaws and I should probably keep tweaking the smallest things until it was juuuust right…

But those words got me thinking. What else had I been keeping in my head, waiting until it was 100% ready before letting it into the world?

“The real orientation of a team is to deliver more as a group than we could have delivered as individual contributors.” – Jim Canfield

Jim Canfield, President of CEO Tools by Aprio, joins Tim in this episode to talk about what it takes to be a great leader! Jim discusses the CEO's role in communicating, executing, and optimizing. He talks about dynamics of an amazing team and what the real orientation of a team truly is. That is only the tip of the iceberg, tune in now to hear all of Jim's insights!

During this very challenging and hardening insurance market, we recognize that eliminating certain types of insurance can be tempting. We often see requests to reduce or remove coverages like directors & officers liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, and comprehensive crime coverage to allow for upfront premium savings. However, it is important to understand that eliminating these policies results in a gap in coverage and can actually increase your costs. Defending claims for actual or alleged wrongful acts related to managing your organization, your employees, and your employee benefit programs can be very costly. Any claim settlements would be an additional out-of-pocket expense to your bottom line.

“Leadership is the art of getting people to want to do what must be done.” - Jim Collins

One of the marks of a great team is decisive leadership. Fostering organizational and team health is a leader’s #1 job, as no team will ever be healthier than its leader.

Let that sink in. Ms./Mr. Leader, how healthy are you? Before alignment can occur within your organization, ensure you’ve put in the work on yourself.

“Leadership is getting the best performance out of other people.” – Larry Linne

Larry Linne is the CEO of InCite Performance Group and this episode's guest. Larry discusses how leadership is really about getting the best performance out of other people. He also digs into the value of learning and the transformation of knowledge to power. Tune in now and hear Larry and Tim discuss the importance of listening & understanding people, abundance mindset, the power of women, and more.

“Excellence should be what we're striving for every day.” – Jacqueline Kronk

Jacqueline Kronk, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County in Indiana, is this episode's guest. The Club's mission is to inspire and enable all young people to become the best version of themselves and she talks about how she can do just that, by investing in their kids and staff. Listen now and hear how Jacqueline inspires others, works hard, is a mother of four, and may be a tad competitive.

Have you ever felt like you're on the edge of something great? You've put in the work, you've done the hard stuff most people aren't willing to do, and now you can just sense a magical run lies ahead.

In the first season of The Edge Podcast, we talk with leaders across a wide variety of industries and learn what it's like to ride that edge and own it. You'll hear what separates out those special teams, the kind, if we're lucky, we get to be a part of maybe three or four times in our life, from the more ordinary experiences.

Join host Tim Leman as we discuss leading on the edge with 6 new episodes!

What separates the great teams from the rest? It all starts with trust.

A lack of trust, where vulnerability is not respected or rewarded, leads to fear of conflict among team members. Without healthy debate and critique, they never go deep, causing an absence of commitment to develop where team members avoid accountability all together. Team members pursue personal gain and status over team victory. Ultimately this inattention to results – team results – brings an end to a once promising group of talented individuals.

Pat Lencioni has named this chain reaction of failed leadership The Five Dysfunctions of a Team in a book by the same name. I suspect most of us have been on a dysfunctional team or experienced dysfunctional leadership.

“The best team is the one that challenges you as a leader to be better.” – Tracy Hutton

Tracy Hutton is CEO at CENTURY 21 Scheetz and this episode's guest. She didn't get there by chance, but by sticking with a career choice at a young age and working her way to the top. A shared love of sports brings Tim and Tracy into a conversation about teamwork and how leadership isn't a one-person game. Also, Tracy gives insight into how having that edge and being successful has its fair share of sacrifices.

Check out this episode of The Edge Podcast:

Warren Buffett said, “there are two sides to every coin…price and value. Price is what you pay, and value is what you get.”

In today’s healthcare system, there is a broad range in both price and value, and unfortunately, traditional health plans do not effectively support members consistently using high-quality, affordable providers and facilities.

On the value side of the coin, there are several reputable quality measures that consistently demonstrate wide variability in safety scores, infection rates, and overall health outcomes – even between two hospitals within the same system! And the statistics on unnecessary care, overuse of testing, and misdiagnosis are staggering.

“You put yourself in a position to get lucky.” – Ryan Hasbrook

Ryan Hasbrook and his team built a company from scratch out of a basement in Broad Ripple. This district of Indianapolis is infused with culture and family. These are two values the team at Eight Eleven Group wanted to insure would define them through the years. Ryan talks with Tim about creating luck and how to keep a culture.

Check out this episode of The Edge Podcast:

In 2017, legendary investor Warren Buffett famously stated, “Medical costs are the tapeworm of American economic competitiveness," indicating in no uncertain terms that rising healthcare costs are the number one problem facing American businesses. Currently, healthcare spending represents approximately 18% of America’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and nearly double per capita compared to other developed countries. To make matters worse, life expectancy is far less than that of comparable nations even after adjusting for age and non-treatable causes of death. Despite these facts, the cost of healthcare continues to rise, consistently outpacing inflation and overall economic growth. Whether you are a business owner, community leader, or industrial worker, you can relate to the pressure from rising healthcare costs and its consequences.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Connie Chwan, Certified EOS Implementer™. We hope you enjoy Connie’s wisdom and perspective.

“Urgent things shout…important things whisper. Listen to the whispers.” Though I do not know whom to attribute this quote, this powerful sentiment has rung true throughout my lifetime.

It is easy to focus on the urgent in our businesses and in our personal lives. The urgent is standing right in front of us, demanding attention, poking us in the shoulder if we momentarily avert our gaze.

Addressing the urgent things in our business feels productive. There are times when you could make the case that solving the issue that shouts at you loudest is productive. But I doubt you can make that case every time something urgent pops up. More importantly, if you find yourself constantly choosing the potential for productivity as your purpose for solving an issue, some deeper issues will likely stay hidden underneath.

I can make the case that productivity isn’t about getting more done; it’s about what you get done.

"Trial by fire made me realize that if you break it down to process and common sense, things aren’t as complicated as they seem." – Matt Wojewuczki

Matt Wojewuczki is a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel and never stopped taking risks throughout his career. At age 45 he decided to go all-in on Microtech Welding Corp. With a strong team and a family that was willing to make sacrifices, Matt found himself at the helm of something new that he was sure would ultimately pay off.

Check out this episode of The Edge Podcast:

Who is your all-time favorite teammate? What virtues do they demonstrate that endear them to you?

It’s likely they epitomize what Pat Lencioni has labeled an Ideal Team Player (ITP):

• They are humble – without concern for their own status.
• They remain hungry – always pursuing growth and giving their best effort.
• They’re smart when it comes to people and relationships – emotionally intelligent, exercising good judgment and intuition within the team.
  
  

Indemnification is a concept whereby one party contractually agrees or is otherwise legally obligated to bear the financial risks of another party. These parties are respectively known as the indemnitor and indemnitee. The construction industry relies on indemnification clauses to manage and transfer risk. Consider some of the common indemnification provisions that may be encountered in construction contracts.

“Companies and leaders that are decisive in their people moves get their goals accomplished faster.” – Todd Smart

Being part of a winning team is a privilege. We all understand the frustrations of working with a team that doesn't feel the same passion for a project that we do. But, once you get a team sharing a singular vision and rowing in the same direction, the clarity is remarkable. Todd Smart believes that by using the simplification and prioritization techniques, that EOS provides, creating that winning team is easily within reach.

On this episode of The Edge Podcast we have Todd Smart, EOS Implementer and Co-Founder of Traction® Tools.

Have you ever felt like you're on the edge of something great? You've put in the work, you've done the hard stuff most people aren't willing to do, and now you can just sense a magical run lies ahead.

In the first season of The Edge Podcast, we talk with leaders across a wide variety of industries and learn what it's like to ride that edge and own it. You'll hear what separates out those special teams, the kind, if we're lucky, we get to be a part of maybe three or four times in our life, from the more ordinary experiences.

Join host Tim Leman as we discuss leading on the edge.

As insurance products go, cyber is in its youth. It’s a teenager, about 15 years old for argument’s sake. In its earlier years, it was widely misunderstood and easily dismissed unless your business model was truly e-commerce. However, as businesses of all types and sizes moved to the cloud and SaaS replaced in-house software on a LAN, more and more business processes were automated, and more data was accessible from anywhere.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Cat Edmonds of Blackink IT. We hope you enjoy Cat’s wisdom and perspective.

Approaching company culture in a hybrid environment can be overwhelming. Especially when circumstances arise without much forewarning (insert a global pandemic here) and require immediate action. As a leader, it becomes your responsibility to ensure your employees are able to work safely, productively, and collaboratively while also working remotely. And if this wasn’t enough stress, your leadership is also a key factor in encouraging and promoting your company’s culture.

There are different approaches on how to implement culture while working in a hybrid environment and we discussed these during a recent webinar. Below are our top 5 takeaway points for leadership.

We are playing an infinite game at Gibson. The purpose of our game is different from the finite games most of us are used to playing.

Our desired “win” is not to beat some other group, but rather to keep our deepest values “in play”. It’s our values – being authentically lived out by our amazing employee-owners – that’s creating our greatest impact. From our own employees, to our clients, friends, and community members, we’re in business to help others find their edge.

Winning a new client, hitting our numbers for the quarter, or nailing our annual goals are all meaningful milestones or measures of progress. We aim to achieve those. But they are only finite scores, with defined winners (and losers). Even a multi-year plan is just that: a longer-term goal with a specific outcome, and still a defined end.

Maybe a “goal” of continuing play doesn’t sound very exciting to those on the outside. Perhaps it inadvertently signals a lack of accountability. Nothing could be further from reality.

The term “risk transfer” means just that: a risk that one party bears is transferred to another. In reality, risk transfer in the context of a contractual transfer of risk from an insured to an insurer is better understood as a transfer of the financial costs of certain risks. For example, if a subcontractor injures a third-party or damages their property, the subcontractor’s commercial general liability policy should provide the subcontractor with defense and indemnification coverage. In other words, the financial cost of a covered risk is transferred from the insured to its insurance carrier. The ability to finance the costs of potential risks is a key tool in how most construction contracts are structured. Here is how.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Mark Olson, Owner of Athletic Mentors. We hope you enjoy Mark’s wisdom and perspective.

Whether we are discussing high performing 10-year old girls soccer teams, NHL Hockey teams, young startup companies, or Fortune 500 corporations, one quality all of these organizations share is the existence of an exceptional coach or team of coaches. They also have a leader at the top of the organization who fully supports and is fully engaged in the coaching process.

As a business owner of a human performance and wellbeing company, I wear many hats. Within my favorite realm as “Coach,” I am responsible for player development, team building and culture building for both my clients and my staff. These coaching responsibilities can be boiled down into three primary concepts or roles - Success Architect, Accountability Boss, and Emotional Currency Regulator – all of which are essential for any high performing organization.

In his book, The Power of a Positive Team, Jon Gordon addresses how teams face or react to the world around them. Circumstances and events happening around a team are not meant to define them. The team is meant to define its circumstances. The power of the team is on the inside, and when a team knows this and lives by it, it will create amazing and positive changes on the outside.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Randy Taussig, Chief Navigation Officer at BlueCore Leadership and Certified EOS Implementer^™. We hope you enjoy Randy’s wisdom and perspective.

Consistent solving and moving through issues are some of the most difficult challenges entrepreneurs face. It’s not surprising that most find it challenging and frustrating. It takes focus, discipline and a solid methodology to get it right.

Here’s where many entrepreneurs get tripped up:

#1. They don’t clearly identify the root issue. The issue produces so many pain points that they don’t know how to dig deep and identify what the real issue is.

#2. They don’t recognize big issues are made up of smaller ones. Issues might have several sub-parts or smaller issues embedded in them.

#3. They dive into unproductive discussion. Their discussion comes from a place of frustration, opinion and emotion, and it’s harder to step back and see what the real issue is.

Uncertainty is chronic.
Instability is permanent.
Disruption is common.
We can neither predict nor govern events.

As Jim Collins writes in BE 2.0, a ‘new normal’ doesn’t exist. “There will only be a continuous series of ‘not normal’ episodes.”

GULP. What to do?

It’s never been more important for leaders and their teams to be rapidly improving their readiness. Those most prepared, and willing – the ready – will be able to adapt and thrive. For the unready, whether they realize it yet or not, the future will be a scary and unpleasant place.

Leaders must act clearly and decisively. Accountability and discipline will be key. So will humility, vulnerability, and fairness.

As Collins considers his work over the past thirty years, he comes back to what might be the principle he’s most closely associated with: first who, then what. Successful organizations will be the ones with the right people (RP) in the right seats (RS) on the bus.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Kathy Mayfield, Integrator at Traction® Tools. We hope you enjoy Kathy’s wisdom and perspective.

You know accountability is necessary to gain Traction^®, but how will greater accountability affect the culture of your workplace? You don’t want to give up the fun, family feel of work. You don’t want people to start dreading Mondays because somebody’s going to hold their feet to the fire. You want a lively, engaged workplace that people love to be a part of. Will greater accountability be a company culture killjoy?

Perhaps the better question to ask is, “What happens when there’s no accountability?”

Complacency breeds mediocrity. Good is the enemy of great. We’ve all heard these phrases. They’re meant to be motivational, inspiring us to push ourselves. Be better. Do more. But more often than not, I see the words get twisted in a way that leaves us feeling like we can never quite be good enough.

Throughout my conversations with friends, family, and colleagues, we often address the question, “so what’s next?” As someone who is surrounded by so many high-achieving people, I can quickly become discouraged just thinking about it. Questions like, “What’s next?” “What else is out there?” “How will I know when I’ve ‘made it’?” can easily consume my thoughts and I catch myself getting sucked into a mindset of always striving for something more, without being entirely sure of what “more” is.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger, Nancy Owsianowski, Founder of RoundTable Consulting, LLC. We hope you enjoy Nancy’s wisdom and perspective.

It’s January. Time to open that brand new calendar and think about goals, dreams, and the potential of the year ahead. With the new year, we get a fresh start and the chance for a new perspective. After 2020 drew our collective attention to health-related topics we have a greater appreciation for good health and the significance of strong relationships. We want a healthier life and healthier organization.

Have you ever felt you might be on the edge?

• Maybe like Melle Mel, you’re getting pushed to the edge and trying not to lose your head.
• Perhaps you’re on the edge of your seat, anticipating what is going to happen in the Season 2 finale of The Mandalorian (link contains episode spoilers!).
• Or, riding to spectacular glory On The Edge in Michigan’s Copper Harbor Trail System.

Like individuals, teams also find themselves on the edge. It can run the gamut between being in a precarious position, almost there, before the fragile bonds holding everyone together begin to break; to one of great excitement and pure joy, roaring down the hill together after the long climb up.

What separates those special teams – the kind, if we’re lucky, we get to be a part of maybe three or four times in our life – from the more mundane, but solid experiences?

Holidays are synonymous with traditions. Beyond the traveling, heading home and famous family recipes, the holidays have a way of reminding us of memories and times spent with family.

This year has presented us with many challenges, cancelled events, and other setbacks. This spring, few would have imagined we would be where we are today. At this point, most of us have been looking forward to something to celebrate for weeks.

With concerns of COVID-19 cases rising in the coming weeks and larger gatherings showing increased rates of getting or spreading the virus, how can we safely continue these traditions?

This year there will be no licking of spatulas or taking the edge of the frosting off the dessert or bumping your cousins’ elbows under the table. Most recommendations centralize on wearing masks, maintaining safe distances, limiting the number of guests, and taking precautions on food preparations and changing how we traditionally sit down to eat, or celebrating at home with immediate family only.

Another year of blogging is in the books! 

In what has been a strange and challenging year for everyone, I hope these posts brought you some insight, nuggets of wisdom, or perhaps opportunities for reflection in 2020. 

Here are the most popular leadership blogs of the year:

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Michelle Mei, Founder of Leader Momentum. We hope you enjoy Michelle’s wisdom and perspective.

Fourteen years ago, just a few months into my first professional job as the Catering Sales Manager at Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites, I received a call that my mom had a stroke. She almost didn’t survive. My mom, a vibrant and motivated woman in her late 40’s, survived the ordeal but lost most of the mobility in the right-side of her body. I was fresh out of college, ready to show my boss, the company, and the world that I was capable of anything. During the next quarterly meeting with my Sales Director, I went on and on about my lofty client prospects and sales goal. My Sales Director didn’t say a word. Uh-Oh. Then, he pushed my goal list to the side of the table and said, “I need you to re-do this. I would like you to add another set of specific goals to your plan. How many times are you going to visit your mom in a week? How many times are you going to have dinner with your parents in a month?” I was speechless. I never thought a company, or a manager, would care about me as a person, or that my success in setting and meeting goals in the areas of my life that mattered the most, would matter to them too. I gave it my all for that company and because of that, I was successful at my job.

Did you claim victory over 2020, or did it get you?

How you answer that question has much to do with the kind of game you’re choosing to play: finite or infinite.

Ever feel like you’re being watched? I’m writing this in late October and Halloween decorations are out in full force. It’s the time of year everything gets just a bit spookier. But this isn’t a blog about ghosts and goblins; this is a blog about influence.

When we hear the word “influence,” we might think of a social media account with millions of followers, or maybe a great mentor we’ve had, or perhaps a high-profile leader of an organization.

But the reality is that we all carry some level of influence on the people around us.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Jim Coyle, Certified EOS Implementer and Chief Advisor at Nexus Business Solutions. We hope you enjoy Jim’s wisdom and perspective.

“Jim, we just need to make sure we get all the details and every part of the process documented, so people don’t mess it up anymore.”

“I think we just need to give our clients more choices. If we had 10 to 15 options, then they would get exactly what they want.”

“What we need is a more detailed plan, so we are all on the same page.”

This year our team has been talking about the Infinite Game, from Simon Sinek’s book. He talks about winning in a totally different fashion than I think we’re all used to.

Winning is about staying in the game, continuing to play, not giving up, and being resilient.

This concept can sometimes feel overwhelming. It got me thinking about another book our team at Gibson drew on in recent years - The Excellence Dividend by Tom Peters. One of things I found most useful in this book was that Tom talks about how excellence is all about the next five minutes.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Jon Brickner of HR Collaborative. We hope you enjoy Jon’s wisdom and perspective.

Whether the radical disruption of 2020 thrust your business into fight, flee, or freeze mode, none of us can deny that the way we work will never be the same. And change isn’t done yet. It may never be. Always-on transformation seems to be here to stay.

And while quarantine-required remote work initially boosted productivity, as organizations return to their old ways of working, engagement, collaboration, and business performance are starting to fall again.

But this trend isn’t equally distributed across all companies. At HR Collaborative, we’ve seen “a tale of two cities” this year. The organizations that embraced modern leadership and a remote infrastructure pre-pandemic weathered the storm much better than those that hadn’t.

I was born into a Green Bay Packers family. I have cheered for the Packers my entire life. There were even a few childhood birthday wishes centered around Green Bay’s success…or Chicago’s failure. I’m proud to say I have successfully made my two daughters into Packers fans. It has been 26 years since I’ve missed watching a game.

So, why the passion…or is it obsession? And what does it have to do with business?

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Rachel Pritz, Certified Life Coach and Certified Enneagram Coach. We hope you enjoy Rachel’s wisdom and perspective.

Rarely do you see skills like compassionate, self-aware, or emotionally intelligent show up on a resume. These are often called "soft skills", but there's nothing soft about them. It takes daily intention and effort to learn these skills. It's a journey not a destination. No book, podcast, or personality assessment will be a quick solution to building these skills. But the Enneagram personality framework can give you a starting point along with a GPS map for your journey.

Rebranding is a company strategy.

It is not just a marketing strategy. It takes buy-in from everyone within an organization to launch a successful rebrand. Your brand identity is just as much internal, as it is external. At Gibson we have more than 150 brand advocates and we (the entire company) must make sure we are telling our truth and portraying ourselves in a way that not only we can be proud of, but that our clients can be proud of.

The other weekend I took down and replaced a light fixture in our bathroom. For some, this may seem like nothing or just an average weekend project, but for me, it was one of many new things I have learned how to do and conquer on my own. Six months ago it would have been one of many items on my husbands ‘honey-do list’ as I typically try to avoid tasks where I can get shocked or zapped!

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Alex Perry, CEO of Practically Speaking, LLC, host of the Minivan Mogul Podcast, and author of Minivan Mogul: A Crash Course in Confidence in For Women. We hope you enjoy Alex’s wisdom and perspective.

As I sit down to write this, I'm already battling the little voice in my head that says, "Why are you trying to write a post on leadership? Seriously, Alex, stop, you're going to try to come up with something that sounds business-y (is that even a word), and you're going to sound ridiculous! Why don't you just leave this one to the experts and go back to scrolling through Facebook or something like that. What on earth could you have to say to professional people who don't make their living writing and talking about their adventures self-discovery in their minivans." ((sigh)).

I'm fighting the urge to make this sound like I think you expect it to sound and doing what I know works for me as a leader, which is writing exactly what I think. You didn't realize when you started this that you were going to get an express ticket to the inside of my brain. Welcome, please make yourself at home. Being true to myself as a leader is tough work that's only gotten minimally easier as I've gone along. Is the same true for you? (if not, feel free to scroll on over to another blog.)

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Kristine Hilger Carles, Executive Director of Leadership South Bend | Mishawaka. We hope you enjoy Kristine’s wisdom and perspective.

My oldest son, a senior in college, is an acting major. Through the experience of being a theater mom, I’ve learned that acting isn’t the chaotic creativity I once believed and that “going off script” is frowned upon in most situations. Acting, though inherently creative, has scripts, procedures, and norms.

Many aspects of life today, from project planning to decision making to meeting management are scripted for us. There is comfort in the script, security in our routines, assured results in our procedures. What happens, though, when an unprecedented pandemic obliterates our routines, and there is no choice but to go off script?

During our board of director’s meeting last fall, I shared the story behind the Miracle on the Hudson, and pilot, Sully Sullenberger’s, quick, creative landing which saved 150 passengers in 208 seconds. When Captain Sullenberger was asked to define his thought process in the middle of a life-threatening crisis, he attributed his unorthodox solution to a “could” approach.

I joined Gibson in February of 2002. While I don’t consider myself a historian of the firm, I have had the privilege of experiencing the growth of our company over the last 19 years. In an industry that can be prone to aggressive sales techniques and practices, I was attracted to Gibson because of the consultative and client-oriented approach to creating a great client experience.

I was very fortunate to have been mentored by some of the best risk management and insurance brokers in our business. Collectively they helped me become more curious and ask better questions of clients and prospects. The answers to the questions helped me to engage the right partners within Gibson to make the client experience better.