What if becoming a better leader starts not with changing everyone around you... but with taking a harder look at yourself?
On this episode of the JOY² – Live With Joy Podcast, Greg De Koker and returning Co-host and Founding Title Sponsor Wray Carvelas sit down with Jonah Erbe, President of Leadership Management International (LMI), for a powerful conversation about leadership, accountability, purpose, faith and human potential.
Drawing on LMI's experience developing leaders across more than 80 countries, Jonah shares why meaningful leadership starts with genuinely caring about people, putting ego aside and leading by example. He explores the influence of mentors, why accountability becomes increasingly important as leaders gain influence, and why we all need people willing to tell us what we may not want to hear.
Together, Greg, Wray and Jonah explore how joy can coexist with pressure, why taking ownership restores our sense of agency, what really motivates people, and why genuine human connection matters. They also tackle loneliness, faith, fear of failure and why progress often begins by simply taking the next step.
In this episode, we explore:
• Why great leadership starts with genuinely caring about people
• How accountability and honest feedback make us better leaders
• Why we need people willing to expose our blind spots
• How small, intentional actions can create meaningful change
• How genuine connection strengthens people, teams and cultures
• How action and learning can take us further than overthinking
Ultimately, leadership isn't something we simply talk about. It's something we demonstrate.
Meaningful transformation rarely happens through one dramatic breakthrough. It happens when we look in the mirror, take responsibility, learn and keep moving forward... one intentional action at a time.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Welcome to JOY² – Live With Joy
00:01:51 Meet Jonah & Leadership Management International
00:09:07 The Highs, Lows & Ego of Leadership
00:20:39 Can Joy Coexist With Leadership Pressure?
00:23:02 The Importance of Accountability & Feedback
00:31:43 What Blocks Joy? Taking Ownership
00:41:06 Leadership, Loneliness & Workplace Connection
00:44:09 The Wheel of Life & Aligning Your Priorities
00:47:54 Overcoming the Fear of Failure
00:50:16 Turning Mistakes Into Lessons
00:51:49 Leadership, Influence & Service
00:53:16 Final Thoughts & Takeaways
Connect with Greg De Koker
Website: www.joy2.ca
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gregdekoker/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/greg_de_koker/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/greg.koker.5/
Connect with Wray Carvelas
Website: www.ascenciagroup.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ascencia-group-unleashing-tomorrow-s-leaders-today/
Connect with Jonah Erbe:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonaherbe/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonah.erbe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonaherbe/
Listen and Subscribe to JOY²:
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/joy-live-with-joy-podcast/id1886910363
Spotify: creators.spotify.com/pod/show/joy-squared-podcast
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JOY2LiveWithJoyPodcast
Stay Connected to JOY²:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/joysquaredofficial/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/joysquaredofficial/
Take Action
Ask yourself:
• Where am I avoiding accountability?
• What's the 1% I can take ownership of?
• Who will tell me what I need to hear, not just what I want to hear?
• Does how I spend my time reflect what matters most?
• What action am I avoiding because I'm afraid of getting it wrong?
Action Tip
Choose one thing you've been overthinking and take one intentional step forward.
Ask for the feedback. Own your part. Have the conversation. Take the first step.
Then ask yourself:
"What might change if I stopped waiting to get it perfectly right... and simply started moving forward?"
Because leadership isn't built through intention alone.
It's built through action.
