TLP364: Accountability Beyond Numbers with Mark A. Mears

Mark A. Mears, keynote speaker and author of “The Purposeful Growth Revolution – Four Ways to Grow From Leader Legacy Builder,” discusses the importance of conscious capitalism. He emphasizes the importance of accountability beyond numbers, using the LEAF model (Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, Fulfillment). He shares his personal experience leading a turnaround and introduces the concept of paying it backward. He also suggests replacing annual performance appraisals with purposeful growth plans.

Key Takeaways

[02:21] Mark Mears talks about his involvement in Conscious Capitalism and how businesses can make a positive difference in the world through purposeful growth.

[06:06] He explains his LEAF model (Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, Fulfillment) and emphasizes the importance of accountability beyond just focusing on numbers by breaking down goals into lead and lag measures. He also stresses the need for transparency and engagement to build trust within teams.

[10:26] Mark emphasizes the importance of identifying the right metrics for a business. He introduces the concept of “think, feel, do, and relate” as the four outcomes to consider.

[18:27] Mark shares a career failure that led to an epiphany for his book concept, emphasizing the importance of fulfillment in achieving growth and success. He shares his personal experience of leading a turnaround for a restaurant chain but being let go after achieving success. This led him to develop the concept of paying it backward, which involves creating a nurturing environment where people feel valued and empowered to be their best selves.

[28:00] Mark discusses the importance of understanding who you serve and how it leads to your motivation, superpowers, role on a team, and key metrics of performance. He suggests that leaders should act as coaches rather than managers and focus on personal growth plans for each team member. Mark advises listeners to learn how to love by listening, observing, valuing, and empowering others in their career.

[31:12] Mark also talks about the need for leaders to communicate clearly and listen better in order to align different perspectives towards common goals. He suggests replacing annual performance appraisals with purposeful growth plans that consider all four sub-brands (personal, internal, external, employer) for an organization’s success.

[38:22] Closing quote: No legacy is so rich as honesty. — William Shakespeare

The Leadership Podcast is sponsored by W.S. Darley & Company.

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