The Path To Leadership

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Waiting for January sounds harmless until you realize how much momentum gets lost in November and December. We see it everywhere: leaders stop making decisions, teams drift into “we’ll tackle it after the holidays,” and then January becomes a frantic ramp-up instead of a strong start. We want something better for you, and it starts with dropping the myth that you need a clean calendar break to change course.

We walk through a practical reflection and reset process you can use as an individual leader or with your team. We talk about asking the right questions early: what you are proud of, what is working, and what needs to stay behind because it is dragging you down. From there, we get specific about leadership habits that actually create results: defining what success looks like, choosing the next action, and removing the “aspirations without action” trap that turns goals into wishes.

We also dig into workload and culture. We share the backpack metaphor for overcommitment, explain why delegation and trust matter so your work does not come to a screeching halt when you take time off, and challenge leaders to honour PTO boundaries so the team can truly reset. Finally, we talk about protecting energy, building an honest advisory circle, and using a one percent better approach to reduce burnout while still moving forward.

If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a teammate, and leave a review. What is one thing you are ready to stop carrying into the new year?

Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

www.jolyean.com

www.katieervin.com

Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge

Order Dr. Katie's books: 

• 52 Weeks of LEADERship:  https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz
• You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6

Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute:  www.katieervin.com/leaders

 
Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

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Research can be a superpower and it can also be the most socially acceptable form of procrastination. We love a research-based lens, but we have both lived the moment where one more article, one more AI prompt, or one more framework starts to replace the thing that actually matters: making the decision and doing the work.

We dig into what we call the “research rabbit hole” and why it traps smart, capable leaders. We talk about the dopamine reward of learning, the difference between wanting and liking, and how perfectionism can disguise itself as “being thorough.” Along the way we connect the dots to leadership identity, high performer pressure, and why teams can stall when people fear making the “wrong” call. We also share real examples from our own lives, from books we have delayed to topics we could study forever, and how that pattern shows up in workplaces that punish mistakes while demanding boldness.

You’ll leave with practical tools you can use immediately: set a research budget, create a parking lot for extra questions, name your next action out loud, and run tiny experiments so you can learn by doing. If you’ve been stuck in analysis paralysis, career indecision, or endless “prep,” this conversation is your nudge back into momentum.

Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share this with a friend who keeps researching instead of shipping, and leave a review if the show helps you lead with more clarity and courage. What topic do you always fall down the rabbit hole with?

Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

www.jolyean.com

www.katieervin.com

Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge

Order Dr. Katie's books: 

• 52 Weeks of LEADERship:  https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz
• You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6

Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute:  www.katieervin.com/leaders

 
Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

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Your wardrobe is already telling a story about you, the only question is whether it matches the leader you’re becoming. We sit down with Beth King, founder of Lead Through Style and a former corporate supply chain leader, to talk about color analysis, personal style, and why so many high-performing women still feel stuck in “easy” outfits that help them blend in rather than stand out.

We get real about the pressure to be “professional” without disappearing, the mixed messages women receive about being “too much,” and how confidence can be rebuilt through small, repeatable choices. Beth breaks down the basics of seasonal color analysis (undertone, chroma, and why the wrong shade can make you look tired), plus the science-adjacent idea of enclothed cognition: what you wear changes how you think, how you show up, and how others size you up in those first critical seconds.

Then we go practical. We talk wardrobe systems that cut decision fatigue, how to shop with guardrails (even if you love thrifting), and how brand recognition can come from simply repeating the right colours. You’ll leave with a clear, doable challenge for the week and a new way to think about executive presence that still feels like you. If this helps, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s been playing small, and leave a review. What outfit makes you feel like the biggest version of yourself?

Connect with Beth and Lead with Style: https://leadthroughstyle.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

www.jolyean.com

www.katieervin.com

Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge

Order Dr. Katie's books: 

• 52 Weeks of LEADERship:  https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz
• You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6

Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute:  www.katieervin.com/leaders

 
Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

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“High performer” sounds like a compliment, but it can become a leadership shortcut that quietly damages teams. We dig into why this label often means the same people get the best projects, the most visibility, and the fastest path upward, while others are left out for reasons that have nothing to do with capability. Along the way, we talk about the real risk behind high performer programs: bias, uneven opportunity, and a culture where burnout looks like commitment.

We break down the patterns that shape who gets tagged as a top performer, including affinity bias and proximity bias, plus the common mistake of equating volunteering with potential. We also name what many employees feel but rarely say out loud: being “the reliable one” can turn into a constant workload dump that drains motivation and accelerates turnover. If you lead a team, you’ll get practical ideas for fair talent development like running a workload audit, opening up nominations, and having growth conversations that uncover what people actually want to learn, build, and own.

Then we zoom out to career development strategy. We make the case for moving beyond the classic career ladder to a career jungle gym, where people can grow through lateral moves, deeper expertise, cross functional work, and bigger impact without being forced into people management. With AI changing jobs fast, flexible career paths and strong employee engagement practices are no longer “nice to have” they are how you keep great people and build a resilient leadership pipeline.

If this sparks a rethink of how you reward performance, subscribe, share the show with a colleague, and leave a review. What’s one label or process at work you would change first?

Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

www.jolyean.com

www.katieervin.com

Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge

Order Dr. Katie's books: 

• 52 Weeks of LEADERship:  https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz
• You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6

Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute:  www.katieervin.com/leaders

 
Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

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You can feel it when you’re pushing too hard, but many leaders still treat rest like something you earn after everything is done. We decided to stop forcing it, took a real break, and came back with more energy, more ideas, and a better reminder of what sustainable leadership actually looks like. If you lead a team, run a business, or carry the “high achiever” label, this conversation will hit close to home. 

We talk about golf as more than a hobby and why it has become a powerful leadership development tool. From women claiming space on the course to volunteering at a major tournament, we unpack how confidence grows through practice, community, and simply showing up. Then we share a golf metaphor that works even if you have never picked up a club: careers can be messy at first, strategy comes with skill, hazards are real, and you still have to pivot when the wind changes. 

We also go to a deeper place: chronic pain and invisible illness in the workplace. Vestibular migraines, vertigo, medication changes, and the emotional weight of needing rest can create shame, especially for high performers. We offer practical ways managers can build psychological safety without overstepping, like protecting one-on-ones, connecting people to resources, and asking, “Is there anything pulling your focus?” We close with proactive health advocacy, including memory care and establishing a baseline when Alzheimer’s runs in the family. 

If this resonates, subscribe, share with a leader who needs permission to pause, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one change you could make this week to lead with more space and less strain?

Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

www.jolyean.com

www.katieervin.com

Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge

Order Dr. Katie's books: 

• 52 Weeks of LEADERship:  https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz
• You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6

Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute:  www.katieervin.com/leaders

 
Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

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A single question can change how you lead: “Was I giving you feedback or was I an asshole?” We start there, unpacking what it takes to notice when our “help” is really just control, and why self-awareness matters more than good intent when you are building trust at work. We also talk about choosing your battles, using the “start with the heart” mindset from Crucial Conversations, and deciding when a repair attempt is worth the time and emotional energy.

Then we switch gears and do something we love: a practical, listener-tested resource roundup. We share podcasts that deliver real professional development without the fluff, including the Harvard Business Review IdeaCast, plus local Kansas City favorites like Four O’Clock Somewhere and The Corporate Couch, and a calming wellness show from Jenna Washnowski. Rhonda brings in a standout mindfulness and neuroaesthetics recommendation from the Getty Museum called the Ohm podcast, a short guided experience that uses art, history, and attention to help center your nervous system.

We also drop our best LinkedIn follows for leaders who want higher quality inputs, including marketing ideas that actually make Gen Z strategy feel usable, plus Nicole Bradford’s AI radar for staying current on artificial intelligence and human-centered AI strategy. And because leadership is also about regulation, not just results, we share our favorite intentional brain breaks like explore.org live nature cams and even underwater streams that can reset your focus before a meeting or a brainstorming session.

We’re taking about a month break after this season-ending conversation, but we want to stay connected. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a rating or review, then tell us what you want us to tackle next season.

Rhonda's recommendations: 

Podcasts

Ommm Podcast by Getty Museum, part history, part mindfulness, part aesthetic engagement. 

Intentional Brain Break

Explore Live Nature Cams Explore.org (bears in Alaska, Katineye Park)

LinkedIn

• Pretty Little Marketer
• Big Think
• Nichol Bradford—AI; Friday “AI Radar” and she reposts variety of AI thought leaders

Book

Lena Dunham, Famesick

Katie's Recommendations: 

Harvard Business Review IdeaCast 

4:00 somewhere-Marc Shaffer and Jeff Pallacio (The Corporate Couch)

In with the…Jenna Washnaski

Intentional Brain Break:

Pompano Beach Underwater Camera: https://www.webcamtaxi.com/en/usa/florida/pompanobeach-underwater-pier-cam.html

LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanadavidphd/

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/normcraig/

Books:

Revealing by Leslie John

Emotion Rules by Joshua Freedman 

Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

www.jolyean.com

www.katieervin.com

Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge

Order Dr. Katie's books: 

• 52 Weeks of LEADERship:  https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz
• You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6

Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute:  www.katieervin.com/leaders

 
Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

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Someone can sound “helpful” and still be out of line. We’re unpacking a messy leadership reality: feedback only helps when it’s grounded in intent, consent, and context. When it isn’t, it stops being a growth tool and turns into ego, control, or someone else’s personal preference dressed up as professionalism.

Katie tells a real story from a leadership program where a fellow facilitator books time on her calendar under the guise of aligning sessions, then delivers unsolicited “tips” about her credibility, her examples, and how she should run a room. We break down why that kind of critique hits so hard, especially when you’re riding the high of doing great work, and why “feedback is a gift” can be a harmful mantra when it pressures people to accept every opinion with a smile.

From there, we get practical. We use a crucial conversations lens to define the difference between feedback and preference, and we share simple questions leaders can ask before offering critique: am I helping them succeed or making them more like me, is this about results or my comfort, did they ask, and do I have enough trust built to be heard. If you’re on the receiving end, we talk about how to look for evidence, give yourself grace, and then flush the rest without letting it steal your confidence.

If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a rating or review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. What’s one piece of feedback you wish you’d ignored, and what’s one that truly helped you grow?

Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

www.jolyean.com

www.katieervin.com

Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge

Order Dr. Katie's books: 

• 52 Weeks of LEADERship:  https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz
• You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6

Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute:  www.katieervin.com/leaders

 
Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

Send us Fan Mail

The World Cup turns ordinary decisions into high-stakes leadership tests, and watching Kansas City host the world has made us think hard about what great teams actually do when things get messy. We do not have a guest this week, just an honest conversation about what we’ve seen behind the scenes: the early transportation hiccups, the public pressure, and the way leaders responded with accountability, fast fixes, and better communication. If you’ve ever led a team through a visible mistake, you’ll recognize how hard it is to stay calm, stay present, and keep moving.

From there, we pull practical leadership lessons straight from soccer. Star players get the headlines, but outcomes depend on the full roster, especially the bench players and “silent contributors” who change the game when the plan breaks. We talk about why alignment and trust beat individual brilliance, and why a leader’s job looks a lot like a coach: prepare people well, then give them real autonomy when the whistle blows. We also get candid about emotional regulation, because teams mirror what leaders model under stress.

Then we zoom out to the human side of this tournament: the community stories, the feeling of belonging across language barriers, and the concept of collective effervescence, that electric sense of “we” that teams and workplaces often miss. We also highlight Kansas City’s leadership in women’s sports through the Kansas City Current, and ask the question we keep coming back to: where are we waiting for permission to build what people already need?

If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who leads teams, and leave a review. And tell us who you think wins it all, plus the best World Cup story you’ve seen so far.

Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

www.jolyean.com

www.katieervin.com

Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge

Order Dr. Katie's books: 

• 52 Weeks of LEADERship:  https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz
• You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6

Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute:  www.katieervin.com/leaders

 
Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

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Networking has a reputation problem. Too many of us picture awkward name tags, forced small talk, and that sinking feeling that we’re being sold to. So we brought on someone who’s known across Kansas City for doing the exact opposite: Marc Shaffer, a financial planner and community builder who’s earned a reputation as a true “super connector” by leading with generosity, curiosity, and follow-through.

We talk about how Marc learned the craft of relationship building through Rotary and mentorship, then turned it into a clear, repeatable system. We dig into the philosophy behind his book One For All, including the idea that what you give “in slices” can come back “in loaves” when you play the long game. You’ll hear how an abundance mindset changes the way you lead, how you follow up, and how you show up in your community without making everything about business.

You’ll also get practical tools you can steal today: how to network as an introvert by going deeper with fewer people, how to use milestones and small acts of kindness to strengthen trust, and how templates, reminders, newsletters and social media can help you stay present even when life is full. Marc also shares how he uses personality assessments to understand working styles and build better partnerships.

If you want to become the kind of leader people remember and recommend, press play, then subscribe, share this with a friend who hates networking, and leave us a review. What relationship habit are you ready to build next?

Connect with Marc: https://searcyfinancial.com/oneforall

Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

www.jolyean.com

www.katieervin.com

Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge

Order Dr. Katie's books: 

• 52 Weeks of LEADERship:  https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz
• You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6

Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute:  www.katieervin.com/leaders

 
Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

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What if the most effective leadership strategy isn't tougher accountability, better technology, or another employee engagement initiative?

What if it's love?

Before you roll your eyes, stay with us.

This week on Path to Leadership, Dr. Katie Ervin and Rhonda Jolyean sit down with leadership expert and former executive Mark Mears to challenge one of the biggest misconceptions in leadership: that caring for people and holding them accountable are opposing forces.

Mark has led some of America's most recognizable brands, and he's seeing a troubling trend. Employee engagement continues to decline. Managers are exhausted. Teams are doing just enough to get by. Too many organizations are confusing comfort with care, and the result is lower performance, lower morale, and frustrated high performers.

We explore:
• Why tolerating underperformance damages your culture more than difficult conversations
• The connection between accountability, trust, and belonging
• What quiet quitting and disengagement are really telling leaders
• Why purpose-driven organizations outperform those focused solely on profits
• The difference between shareholder value and stakeholder value
• How hybrid workplaces are creating new challenges for connection and recognition
• The role AI will play in leadership—and why human wisdom still matters

At the center of the conversation is Mark's LOVE framework:

Listen. Observe. Value. Empower.

It's a practical leadership approach that helps people feel seen, supported, challenged, and connected to something bigger than themselves.

If you're trying to create a culture where people thrive without sacrificing results, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership.

Because the best leaders don't choose between people and performance.

They understand that one drives the other.

Connect with Mark:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/markamears/

https://www.markamears.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

www.jolyean.com

www.katieervin.com

Check out Rhonda's Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThingsForge

Order Dr. Katie's books: 

• 52 Weeks of LEADERship:  https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=afiG9oMq4YoXnvxsSD9PDjTrezQvZd6A7vBE1T2yaGz
• You Might Be an Asshole: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=O4ZMvNNamwFzFFUAjJB1s6pjudAiHrUlcUX0iMUlzI6

Learn more about Catalyst LEADERs Institute:  www.katieervin.com/leaders

 
Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/