Episode 16 - Dojo Discipline for Boardroom Decisions with Karen Gately
Episode 16 - Dojo Discipline for Boardroom Decisions with Karen Gately
A TITLE MAY GIVE YOU AUTHORITY – BUT IT DOESN’T GUARANTEE INFLUENCE.
On today’s episode of THE INFLUENCE GAP, host Bernadette McClelland welcomes leadership consultant and 3rd Dan black belt and multiple state, national and international karate title holder Karen Gately for a powerful conversation about what truly earns a leader trust, respect and influence.
After more than 25 years of training and competing in karate, Karen carried one defining lesson from the dojo into the business world: title does not equal capability—and capability alone does not equal influence.
Karen and Bernadette explore the difference between positional authority and genuine leadership. They discuss why psychological safety must be supported by competence, how self-management shapes a leader’s impact and why influencing change in someone else must begin with creating change within yourself. Karen also shares a revealing consulting story about a sales manager who generated 60% of his company’s revenue while quietly damaging the culture around him. It took two years to persuade the CEO to address the situation – but one courageous conversation ultimately created the opportunity for change. If you are leading a sales team through a difficult quarter, carrying a decision you have been avoiding or wondering why your title is not producing the results you expected, this conversation is for you.
True influence is not something a title gives you. It is something your character, competence and consistency earn.
Connect with Karen on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-gately-peopleleadershipexpert
Or buy your copy of The Corporate Dojo here – https://www.corporatedojo.com/books
#TheInfluenceGap #BernadetteMcClelland #KarenGately #Leadership #Influence
Key Takeaways
- A title gives you authority, but it does not guarantee influence.
- Psychological safety must be supported by competence.
- Influencing change in others starts with change within yourself.
- One courageous conversation can fix a culture problem that has been avoided for years.
- Influence is earned through character, competence and consistency.
Episode Overview
Jason shares how faith, education, commitment and consistency helped him rebuild his identity;
why he stopped waiting for his circumstances to change and began changing himself;
and how a steel mirror, a personal purpose statement and a photograph of Rocky became daily reminders of who he was determined to become.
While incarcerated, Jason earned two degrees with honors and served others as a peer facilitator, mental-health peer assistant, legislative representative and spiritual leader.
Today, he leads programs and services at Breakthrough while working as a public speaker and success coach—demonstrating that rock bottom can become the foundation for a remarkable future.
For leaders navigating uncertainty, scrutiny or high-stakes decisions, Jason’s journey offers an unforgettable lesson in self-agency, resilience and standing firmly behind a decision once it has been made.
🎧 Watch or listen to THE INFLUENCE GAP with BERNADETTE McCLELLAND featuring JASON HOGAN.
📩 Connect with Jason: jasonh.speaking@gmail.com
🌐 Learn about Breakthrough: timetobreakthrough.org