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?