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Why Leadership Is Not a Talent, But a System Anyone Can Learn with Joel Worthington
Manage episode 524571639 series 3553316
In this episode of Scaling the Gap, Madeleine MacRae sits down with Joel Worthington, a pastor turned president who took Mr. Electric from $40 million to over $200 million and built a brand where people actually loved showing up to work. After 16 years in ministry and more than a decade leading one of Neighborly’s flagship companies, Joel now teaches leaders the system he spent 30 years developing. It is a practical, repeatable approach to leadership that transforms cultures, increases profits, and creates true followers instead of disengaged employees.
Joel shares why soft skills are learnable, why charisma is not magic, why most owners set the wrong goals, and how a simple mindset called Tell Me More instantly deepens connection and influence.
This conversation is a reminder that leadership is not about pressure, perfection, or pretending. It is about alignment, authenticity, and creating a workplace where people bring their full energy because they genuinely want to.
Key Takeaways
Why leadership is not innate and why every human can learn it through practice and structure
The science behind mirror neurons and why authentic connection raises performance
Why most owners set goals for the wrong reasons and how misalignment sabotages culture
The difference between a "Get to" culture and a "Have to" culture
Why safe environments produce truth, creativity, loyalty, and high engagement
Why misaligned leadership creates resentment, fear, and disengagement
How leadership skills become contagious and impact families, homes, and communities
In This Episode
[00:00] Introduction to Joel Worthington
[05:01] Leadership programs and step-by-step systems
[09:28] Self-leadership and knowing what you want
[10:33] The “tell me more” mindset and authentic connection
[13:32] Energy in leadership and employee engagement
[17:19] Creating a safe, transparent environment
[19:45] Mirroring, authenticity, and self-leadership
[21:18] Aligning goals with genuine motivation
[22:41] Coaching owners to find their “why”
[27:06] The power of a “get to” culture
[29:02] Leadership’s ripple effect on families and communities
[32:59] Closing and where to find Joel
Notable Quotes
[08:24] “Leadership is something that can be grown. You just have to practice.” – Joel
[08:16] “If you can learn to smile, I can teach you charisma.” – Joel
[13:12] “If we can turn employees into followers, we get their heart and when we get their heart, we naturally get their hands.” – Joel
[17:08] “Energy is a choice. An employee can do the task and give almost no energy at all.” – Joel
[08:47] “We have to become the leader first; the title or position comes later.” – Joel
[19:11] “We have leaders who literally believe they have the truth and are making great strategic decisions, but it’s based on lies because they haven’t created an environment where people are willing to tell them the truth.” – Joel
[24:22] “Tap into your energy as an owner, and if it doesn't tap into your energy, you don't have the right energy around your employees.” – Joel
Our Guest
Joel Worthington is a leadership expert, former pastor, and longtime president of Mr. Electric, where he helped scale the brand from 40M to more than 200M. After 30 years of studying and teaching leadership, Joel now runs a leadership training company that equips owners, executives, and entrepreneurs with practical, step by step systems to develop people, build thriving cultures, and increase profit through authentic connection.
Resources and Links
Joel Worthington
Website: joelworthington.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joelworthington
Madeleine MacRae
100 episodes
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