Lead With Purpose

Merv Jersak
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Most organizations don’t fail because of bad strategy, weak technology, or poor processes. They fail because leadership breaks down in the human moments of execution. The Lead With Purpose Podcast, hosted by leadership consultant and former IT project executive Merv Jersak, explores the real disciplines that determine whether teams struggle under pressure or perform with clarity and cohesion. After four decades working inside complex organizations, Merv saw the same pattern repeated everywhere: high-performing producers promoted into leadership roles but rarely trained in the skills required to guide people through conflict, uncertainty, competing priorities, and organizational pressure. This podcast focuses on those leadership skills. Through conversations with experienced leaders, coaches, and professionals, you’ll hear practical insights on how strong leaders steady themselves under pressure, build trust that speeds collaboration, align teams around shared goals, make disciplined decisions, and create environments where performance becomes sustainable. If you are a mid-level leader, emerging executive, or business owner responsible for delivering results through others, this podcast will challenge how you think about leadership and execution. Because great leadership isn’t just about getting results. It’s about building teams that can achieve them together. Follow the Lead With Purpose Podcast and start leading smarter today.

  1. Sep 8

    Mathew Blades: The Conversation You're Avoiding Is Already Costing You

    For Your Leadership Toolkit ·       the “you and me versus the problem” mindset is crucial for collaborative problem-solving ·       the importance of going first in conversations ·       relational programming and its impact on communication ·       how tone and body language influence understanding ·       strategies for handling difficult conversations with superiors ·       the role of vulnerability and honesty in leadership ·       the significance of listening to understand, not respond ·       how to set the stage for productive dialogue   Sound bites “It's not you versus me, it's you and me versus the problem.” “As soon as you make the person the problem, you stop solving the problem.” “That's the point of a conversation is to understand what happens next.” “Most people are never taught the art of a conversation.” “Most of us are bringing a childhood operating system to an adult conversation.” “You don't get to control the outcome.” “Effective communication does not equal agreement.” “They listen to respond. They don't listen to understand.” “You're missing a real opportunity to connect with somebody because you just want to be right.” “The successful people are just better at interrupting the pattern faster.” “Silence often says a lot more than words do.” “Somebody has to be willing to go first or we just keep doing what we've been doing.” “Everybody shows up to the same conversation differently.” “Most problems are solved the moment somebody feels heard.”   Chapters 04:22 The simplicity of having better conversations 06:12 The “Air-Check” method for self-improvement 08:45 Watching back conversations to improve 10:31 Knowing when to let go of certain conversations 11:38 The power of honesty and vulnerability 13:12 Listening to understand versus to respond 15:53 Interrupting patterns for effective communication 17:42 Reprogramming relational patterns from the past 20:18 Creating a safe space for honest dialogue 22:19 The “Sharp Communication” framework 26:15 Making others feel heard to foster trust 28:12 The value of clear outcomes and tone awareness 30:20 Handling conversations with your boss 34:22 Advice for emerging leaders on difficult conversations 38:08 The art of disarming with awareness 39:16 The real-world application of effective communication    Resources Mathew’s Website - https://mathewblades.com/ Mathew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewblades/ Mathew’s new book: Go First: How Better Conversations Change Everything Connect with Merv at www.PeopleFirstProjectManagement.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merv.jersak/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mervjersak/

    Mathew Blades: The Conversation You're Avoiding Is Already Costing You

  2. Sep 1

    Kymberli Speight: Stop Networking. Start Building Relationships.

    For Your Leadership Toolkit ·       relationship building is a skill that can be learned and developed ·       importance of transformational relationships over transactional ones ·       overcoming challenges as introverted leaders in relationship building ·       your network equals net worth ·       relationships are the currency of growth and success ·       trust is built over time through credibility, reliability, and vulnerability ·       trust can be lost in an instant ·       being intentional and authentic in interactions fosters deeper connections ·       building social capital involves giving value and paying attention to human interactions   Sound bites “If you are interested in the other person, you become interesting.” “When your why is big enough, the facts don't matter.” “If it's going to be in alignment with your goals, even if it scares you, say yes.” “That's a trait of a leader being comfortable with being uncomfortable.” “Part of relationship building is being comfortable in your own skin and knowing that you're valuable.” “People can feel your energy and they can feel your intent.” “If I've been a giver, then when you need something, people are willing to lean forward and help you out.” “It's not transactional. It's actually transformational.” “Pay attention to every single human interaction that you have with someone.” “Great relationships usually give you energy.” “Trust is foundational to any good relationship.” “It takes a while to build trust, but only an instant to break it.”   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Relationship Building in Leadership 02:10 Kymberli Speight's Journey from Military to Leadership Coach 05:39 Buying F-15 Fighter Jets at Age 28 and Building Credibility 06:23 Owning Your Value and Building Respect in Relationships 08:45 Relationship as a Leadership Skill and How to Develop It 09:40 Meeting 100 People in 100 Days: Goals and Lessons Learned 12:06 Maintaining Relationships Over Time and Social Media Strategies 15:19 Relationships as the Currency of Growth for Young Leaders 16:43 Building Trust and Authenticity in Relationships 18:12 The Three-Part Framework for Building Relationships 19:35 Supporting Introverted Leaders in Relationship Building 20:31 Effective Icebreaker Questions for Relationship Conversations 26:39 The Foundation of Trust and How to Build It 33:17 Maintaining Relationships and the Effort Required    Resources Kymberli’s Website - https://kymberlispeight.com/ Kymberli on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kymberlispeight/ Connect with Merv at www.PeopleFirstProjectManagement.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merv.jersak/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mervjersak/

    Kymberli Speight: Stop Networking. Start Building Relationships.

  3. Aug 25

    Patrick Donadio: "But I Told Them!" Is Not Communication

    For Your Leadership Toolkit importance of understanding that meaning comes from the receiver, not the sender IMPACT: Intention, Person, Activate, Clarify, Transform role of active listening and checking for understanding common communication mistakes leaders make when delivering difficult messages significance of tailoring communication to the audience and context Seven Times Rule in communication and its application in leadership cultural cues and verbal ticks that affect understanding importance of feedback and self-evaluation in improving communication practical tips for leaders to enhance their communication skills   Sound bites "The meaning of the message doesn't always come from the sender." "Your performance as an individual does not equate with your performance as a leader." "Anybody can talk, but not everybody can communicate with impact." "Yet organizations just make the assumption, if you can talk, you can lead." "What should I keep doing? What should I stop doing? And what could I be doing differently?" "Every communication starts with intention. Think before you speak." "Why am I communicating this message with this person at this time?" "Things will get done if people are clear and understanding." "If people understand the why, they're more likely to accept the how." "Don't just make the assumption that once it's delivered, it's going to be received correctly." "The more we can be concise, the more we can be consistent, the more we can be clear, the better the reception." "It is a process, not an event." "When in doubt, check it out." "What gets rewarded gets repeated."   Chapters 00:00 The true source of message meaning 02:21 Introducing the IMPACT process 06:19 Start with intention in communication 12:53 The importance of explaining the why 13:22 Checking for understanding and active listening 19:36 Cultural cues and verbal ticks in communication 25:58 Common mistakes in delivering difficult messages 28:31 Starting with clear intention before conversations   Resources Learn more:www.PatrickDonadio.com The IMPACT©” Process Model Overview (PDF): https://patrickdonadio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Communicating-with-IMPACT-Wheel.pdf Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickdonadio. Speaker/Coach One-Pager (PDF): https://patrickdonadio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Donadio-One-Page-Overview-Speaking-Coaching-24.pdf Get Patrick’s book “Communicating with IMPACT©” on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/vh9a7emContact:https://forms.gle/PxmQQFSPs91w3R9i8 (Questions, Event Bookings, Communication Coaching) Connect with Merv at www.PeopleFirstProjectManagement.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merv.jersak/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mervjersak/

    Patrick Donadio: "But I Told Them!" Is Not Communication

  4. Aug 18

    Joanne Gallagher: The Skills That Got You Here Won’t Get You There

    For Your Leadership Toolkit transitioning from expert to leader Micro-Credentialing and professional development the role of critical thinking in leadership building leadership capacity in organizations the impact of AI on workforce skills empathy and influence in leadership   Sound bites “Good culture is what perpetuates good culture.” “I may have the knowledge on how to fix the problem, but what are they seeing?” “Being able to sit in their place for long enough.” “You're not gonna go faster by giving them the answer.” “I didn't give them the answer. I just gave them the details.” “You don't even know how good you are.” “Who is becoming a better leader because you are their leader?”   Chapters 04:09 From Technical Expert to Leadership Developer 05:42 The Importance of Micro-Credentialing in Leadership 07:34 Critical Thinking as a Guardrail for the Future 09:03 The Role of Innovation and Culture in Leadership 10:14 When Expertise Becomes a Liability 12:15 Building Roots and Cultural Integration 13:53 Empathy and Influence in Client Engagement 20:33 Recognizing and Developing Leadership Potential 22:39 Knowing When to Step Back as a Leader 25:46 Micro-Credentialing's Role in Workforce Development 30:25 Rapid Fire Questions: Leadership Perspectives 32:30 Key Takeaways    Resources Joanne’s Website - https://soar.llc/ Joanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-gallagher-pmp-ccmp-hcs-6a6346/ Connect with Merv at www.PeopleFirstProjectManagement.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merv.jersak/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mervjersak/

    Joanne Gallagher: The Skills That Got You Here Won’t Get You There

  5. Aug 11

    Frank Kitchen: He Cleaned Toilets to Build a Winning Team — Here's Why

    For Your Leadership Toolkit belief gaps and their impact on leadership the importance of leaders being visible and doing the work that others don’t want to do organizational culture is both a shared belief system and a set of actions closing the belief gap starts with leaders being visible and authentic feed your mind with positive content fuels mental strength building a culture of trust and ownership requires intentional belief-building strategies for building a positive organizational culture the influence of leadership on team morale and trust   Sound bites “People have to see that you're willing to do what you're going to delegate to them.” “I want to be judged by the people I promote, not the sales that I make.” “When you have a leader who believes in your abilities, then you start to have a certain belief in yourself.” “As leaders we have to be visible.” “We have to have people who have belief in the same objective first, and then we can truly align.” “What are we feeding our brain? What are we feeding our soul daily? Because it's junk in, junk out.” “These are people who aren't going to tell you what you want to hear, it's what you need to hear.” “Culture can fuel your success, or culture can lead to you not cooking up your success.” “Leadership isn't about convincing people that they're not up to it. It's about helping them discover that they're capable of more than they've even imagined for themselves.”   Chapters 00:00 The importance of leaders being visible and doing the 'dirty work' 02:00 Frank's background and journey to becoming the chef of success 04:57 Belief becomes habits and habits become success 09:07 How leaders can inadvertently create belief gaps in teams 11:41 Defining a healthy organizational culture 13:10 Jim's leadership example and its impact on Frank 14:29 Building or rebuilding belief in team members 16:14 The power of visible leadership and modeling behavior 17:34 Belief and alignment in team success 20:25 The impact of belief on team roles and collaboration 22:04 Closing the belief gap to foster a unified culture 24:43 Providing truthful information to build belief 25:52 The five ingredients of mental strength for leaders 29:13 Feeding your mind with positive, growth-oriented content 30:18 Who closed the belief gap for Frank Kitchen 31:15 The influence of students and mentors on belief 32:31 Rapid fire: leadership insights and personal preferences 33:58 The power of belief as a transformation tool 34:24 Culture can fuel or hinder success 35:05 Leadership is about helping people believe in their potential   Resources Frank’s Website - https://www.frankkitchen.com/ Frank on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankkitchen/ Connect with Merv at www.PeopleFirstProjectManagement.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merv.jersak/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mervjersak/

    Frank Kitchen: He Cleaned Toilets to Build a Winning Team — Here's Why

  6. Jul 28

    Jerome Wade: Why Talented Teams Underperform

    For Your Leadership Toolkit the importance of leadership “systems” over talent in organizations the five Cs of effective leadership: Clarity, Confidence, Connection, Consistency, Capacity how to create clarity and simplify goals building confidence through humility and decisiveness fostering connection and trust within teams maintaining consistency through daily routines and rhythms growing capacity through personal and team development identifying early signs of leadership misalignment   Sound bites "Clarity can only be measured by its simplicity."  "People follow confidence. They do not follow leaders who lack confidence."  "Leadership is the opportunity to unlock the potential of people, opportunity, and the organization."  "Failure's only failure if you quit. It's not final and it's not fatal."  "Believe in you."  "The deeper the connection the greater the commitment."  "Most organizations don't have a talent problem. They have a systems problem."    Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Why teams often struggle despite having talented members 00:28 Leadership is about systems, not just talent 01:00 The role of leadership in unlocking potential 02:13 Why most organizational failures are system failures 02:24 The five C's of high-impact leadership 03:26 Leadership as influence, not just a role 04:20 Removing barriers vs. unlocking latent potential 05:25 Leadership is about influence, not titles 07:23 Signs of leadership misalignment: communication, connection, confidence 08:40 The power of clarity and simplicity in leadership 12:00 The importance of explicit, specific clarity 16:25 Building connection and trust in teams 18:27 Creating organizational consistency through routines 21:37 The importance of capacity and continual growth 23:48 Addressing low trust and poor alignment in teams 28:05 Overcoming dark days and leadership doubts 30:21 Failure is only final if you quit 33:00 Daily rhythms and routines for sustained success 34:11 How to find and work with leadership experts 35:14 Leadership challenge: aligning team mission and priorities 36:04 Closing thoughts: Lead with purpose and intentionality   Resources Jerome’s Website - https://jeromewade.com/ Jerome on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeromewade/ Connect with Merv at www.PeopleFirstProjectManagement.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merv.jersak/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mervjersak/

    Jerome Wade: Why Talented Teams Underperform

  7. Jul 21

    Patricia Fripp: This One Skill Determines Who Gets Promoted

    For Your Leadership Toolkit the importance of communication in leadership how to handle difficult conversations tips for effective meetings and presentations your career is limited more by your ability to explain ideas than by your intelligence storytelling creates lasting impressions and builds trust preparation and structure are key to effective communication leaders should treat every meeting as an opportunity to inspire and connect confidence in storytelling can be built through simple, relatable stories   Sound bites “People will respect a position... but they will fight in the streets for the person they feel they know—the person behind the position.” “The stories are what get repeated in the hall. It's the stories that build the culture.” “You are just an untrained speaker. Why would you expect to be good at any area you've had no time to focus on?” “For a leader, nothing is ordinary because everything has impact.” “You always have to have something to say while you're thinking of what you're going to say.” “Everyone is more interested in themselves than they are in us. We always have to speak as an audience advocate.” “Why would they care about what I'm saying? If they wouldn't, find a way to make them care.” “If your boss gives you 15 minutes and you can give your report in eight or ten, you're gonna get points.” “You don't have to have a title to be a leader. But you do have to communicate.”   Chapters 00:00 The Power of Communication in Leadership 01:53 Patricia Fripp's Journey from Hair Stylist to Communication Expert 04:04 How Storytelling Builds Trust and Leadership Presence 07:02 Turning Speech into a Business: Patricia's Coaching Journey 09:02 Elevating Technical Leaders Through Presentation Skills 12:08 The Role of Stories in Shaping Company Culture 16:07 Building Confidence in Public Speaking 18:05 Making Meetings Engaging and Purposeful 21:51 Using Quotes and History to Enhance Meetings 26:07 Handling Difficult Conversations with Confidence 30:10 Key Communication Habits for New Leaders   Resources Patricia’s Website - https://fripp.com/ Patricia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executivespeechcoach/ Connect with Merv at www.PeopleFirstProjectManagement.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merv.jersak/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mervjersak/

    Patricia Fripp: This One Skill Determines Who Gets Promoted

  8. Jul 14

    Shelley Davis Boyd: Why Hardworking Teams Still Fail

    For Your Leadership Toolkit what is organizational alignment? the importance of communication and expectations the role of civility and emotional intelligence signs of misalignment in teams strategies for new leaders to create alignment impact of remote work on organizational culture the connection between clarity and accountability common misconceptions about workplace culture   Sound bites "Uncommunicated expectations are always unmet expectations."  "Accountability is kindness."  "Feedback is just data."  "Alignment doesn't mean we're all thinking the same."  "People need to feel seen, valued, and heard."  "Transactional relationships are really hard to build good cultures."  "You cannot be your authentic self if you don't know who you are."  "You can't overcommunicate during change."    Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Alignment 01:12 Shelly Davis Boyd's Leadership Journey 04:36 Defining Organizational Alignment in Plain English 05:16 Creating Accountability with Kindness 11:46 Misconceptions About Workplace Culture 14:07 Building Culture Remotely 15:17 The Impact of Civility on Performance 19:03 Developing Leadership Presence and Emotional Intelligence 23:07 Leading Through Change 24:18 First 30 Days as a New Leader 26:38 Fixing Workplace Problems with Leadership   Resources Shelley’s Website - https://www.essdeeandco.com/ Shelley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleydavisboyd/ Connect with Merv at www.PeopleFirstProjectManagement.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merv.jersak/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mervjersak/

    Shelley Davis Boyd: Why Hardworking Teams Still Fail
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About

Most organizations don’t fail because of bad strategy, weak technology, or poor processes. They fail because leadership breaks down in the human moments of execution. The Lead With Purpose Podcast, hosted by leadership consultant and former IT project executive Merv Jersak, explores the real disciplines that determine whether teams struggle under pressure or perform with clarity and cohesion. After four decades working inside complex organizations, Merv saw the same pattern repeated everywhere: high-performing producers promoted into leadership roles but rarely trained in the skills required to guide people through conflict, uncertainty, competing priorities, and organizational pressure. This podcast focuses on those leadership skills. Through conversations with experienced leaders, coaches, and professionals, you’ll hear practical insights on how strong leaders steady themselves under pressure, build trust that speeds collaboration, align teams around shared goals, make disciplined decisions, and create environments where performance becomes sustainable. If you are a mid-level leader, emerging executive, or business owner responsible for delivering results through others, this podcast will challenge how you think about leadership and execution. Because great leadership isn’t just about getting results. It’s about building teams that can achieve them together. Follow the Lead With Purpose Podcast and start leading smarter today.

Information

  • Creator
    Merv Jersak
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Lead With Purpose
  • Show Website
    Lead With Purpose