3 min read

Start With YES

By Laurie Nafziger on Apr 13, 2023 6:30:00 AM

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.

Topics: Executive
3 min read

Multiple Generations: Better Together

By Mark Wobbe on Apr 6, 2023 6:30:00 AM

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?

Topics: Executive
1 min read

The Edge Podcast: Finding Your Entrepreneurial Edge

By Gibson on Mar 30, 2023 6:30:00 AM

“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.

Topics: Executive
1 min read

The Edge Podcast: Who You Are, Not What You Do

By Gibson on Mar 23, 2023 6:30:00 AM

“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.

Topics: Executive
1 min read

The Edge Podcast: The Importance Of Relationships

By Gibson on Mar 16, 2023 6:30:00 AM

“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.

Topics: Executive
1 min read

The Edge Podcast: Lifting Others Up & Vision Building

By Gibson on Mar 9, 2023 6:30:00 AM

“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.

Topics: Executive
4 min read

We’re Going Dancing

By Craig Heatherly on Mar 2, 2023 6:30:00 AM

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.

Topics: Executive
4 min read

The Journey

By Courtney Montfort on Feb 23, 2023 6:30:00 AM

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.

Topics: Executive
2 min read

The Edge Podcast: Season 4

By Gibson on Feb 16, 2023 6:30:00 AM

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.

Topics: Executive
5 min read

The Power of Mid-Level Managers to Shape Your Company’s Culture

By Amber Fields on Feb 9, 2023 6:30:00 AM

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.

Topics: Executive