“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.