Leadership is the Conversation: Let's Talk

When pressure builds, do you recognize your reactions—or do others notice them first?In Part 2, Clare Morin turns the focus inward, exploring the triggers, stress responses, and leadership tendencies that shape how we show up—and how others experience us. It’s a conversation about recognizing our reactions before they set the tone for everyone else.A former Fortune 500 content creator and now a Maine-based writer, publicist, and content consultant, Clare brings a candid perspective to her executive coaching experience with the Hogan Leadership Forecast Series—including her initial skepticism about an assessment that might put her in a box.Join us to explore how knowing yourself better can help you lead more intentionally, build trust, and bring a steadier presence to moments that test you.

When the pressure is on, do you add to the tension—or provide a calming presence others can count on?Meet Clare Morin, a former Fortune 500 content creator and now a Maine-based writer, publicist, and content consultant. Drawing on her executive coaching experience with the Hogan Leadership Forecast Series, Clare explores what it means to be a steady presence when the path forward is unclear. Join us for a conversation about building trust, inspiring confidence, and bringing calm to the chaos—not through having every answer, but through how you show up. Coming up in Part 2: We turn the focus inward to explore how recognizing your triggers, stress responses, and leadership tendencies can help you respond with intention rather than react under pressure.

EXCEL-ERATED LEADERSHIP is a professional in-person development program for your high-potential and high-performing individuals and teams.Learn how to build better relationships, get better results, and be more influential inside your team, your department, and your organization.  Be seen as a leader! It’s built and delivered with the highest Credibility.  Your facilitators have 25+ years of proven leadership development and executive coaching inside the insurance industry.  It’s designed for immediate Practicality.  Practice the proven concepts at home that evening and then at work the next morning. Workability.  The sessions are scheduled one month apart to limit your time away from the home or office. A professional development program for you, the high-performing individual to build relationships, get results and influence outcomes. 

Meet Todd Wottring—Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at Butler University and owner of The Wottring Agency, an Allstate Insurance firm in Indianapolis.Todd is a lifelong insurance professional who began his career as an agent right out of college. Determined to rise above mediocrity, he committed to making insurance a true career—not just another job.Over the course of 30+ years with Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Todd held numerous leadership roles, including Agent, Agency Development Specialist, Agency Manager, District Sales Director, and Manager of Life Insurance Training. In this episode, we explore:Recruiting and investing in top talent versus settling for “C-players.”Helping employees achieve their aspirations so everyone wins.Setting clear, focused strategies and processes that drive sales.Focusing on client retention—the cornerstone of long-term success.Overcoming the “microwave society” mindset by investing in your agency and team for sustainable growth.Leveraging a coach to help you reach goals that you can’t achieve alone.Todd also serves as a facilitator in our Mastering Agency Management professional development series.Learn more and enroll in our next session today! Invest in yourself—start building the agency you’ve always envisioned.

Join us for an engaging conversation with Tom Faulconer, Professor of Risk Management, and Insurance at Butler University, practicing attorney, and financial advisor. Tom brings a wealth of experience from his distinguished career in the insurance industry, having served in leadership roles such as Director of Agency Training, Senior Vice President of Marketing, and Chief Marketing Officer at Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance.  In this first episode, we explore:Working ON your agency vs. IN your agencyMaking the leap from producer to managing producersLeveraging data to develop and empower your teamBalancing discipline, diligence, and vision to create your “lifestyle for the future”Tom is also a facilitator in our Mastering Agency Management professional development series.  https://equisconsulting.com/mastering-agency-management/ Invest in yourself—enroll in our next session today!

We’re joined by Steve Cissna, Owner & President of Reedy Insurance Services in Seymour, Indiana. Steve opens up about his experience buying and growing a family-oriented independent agency — and what he’s learned along the way.We talk about:Buying an agency vs. building one from the ground upWhy matching with the right carriers really mattersGetting a handle on the financial side of ownershipThe not-so-fun (but necessary) business plans every carrier wantsHow agency decisions can ripple through family lifeWhether you're thinking about buying an agency or just want to hear from someone who's done it, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

We’re back for Part Two of our chat with Steve Cissna, Owner & President of Reedy Insurance Services in Seymour, Indiana. Steve dives into how he navigates the mix of certainty and risk when making big decisions to grow his agency.Here’s what we cover:Growing smart: What to think about when hiring new staff, bringing on agents, or expanding into new territories.Opportunity vs. timing: How to recognize when a growth opportunity is close enough to the plate to take a swing.Strategic choices: The pros and cons of hiring in familiar territory vs. buying an agency in a brand-new market.Culture matters: Why creating a flexible, family-like work environment makes all the difference. Steve believes people shouldn’t feel guilty for picking up their kids early—work should support life, not compete with it.Playing nice: Building strong relationships with other local agencies. As Steve puts it, “It’s a friendly sandbox if you can make it that way.”

Wrapping Up Our Conversation with Steve Cissna Owner & President of Reedy Insurance Services, Seymour, IndianaSteve shares his thoughts on agency perpetuation and some hard-earned wisdom from his journey:Choose Your Path: Will you pass your agency on to your team or sell to private equity?Grow Smart: Don’t rely on profitability bonuses—focus on organic growth and managing expenses.Lead with Flexibility: When staff are late, stay calm and ask yourself—will this really change my life?Stay Positive: Insurance has its challenges, but it offers freedom, good income and the chance to help others.Document Everything: Good records support what “really happened” vs. “what others think happened.”Put Clients First: Always err on their side.Learn from Competitors: Conversations can lead to growth.Keep Connections Alive: You never know when you’ll need a helping hand. 

Program Description: In this Part 2 episode, John Horton of HOGAN Assessment Systems discusses the importance of leadership self-awareness and identifying the gap between a leader’s self-identity and his or her workplace reputation.  Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization, employer, or group.

Program Description: In this episode, John Horton of HOGAN Assessment Systems discusses the importance of leadership self-awareness and identifying the gap between a leader’s self-identity and his or her workplace reputation.  Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization, employer, or group.