Mark Mears, a seasoned executive with 30 years of experience at companies like PepsiCo and McDonald's, shared his journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship. He discussed his revolutionary LEAF growth model, emphasizing leadership, engagement, accountability, and fulfillment. Mears highlighted the importance of aligning purpose with performance, using real-life examples like turning around a $500 million restaurant chain. He also introduced the LOVE model for leadership: Listen, Observe, Value, and Empower. Mears stressed the need for empathetic management, continuous learning, and fostering a culture of purpose and growth to retain and engage team members effectively.
Resources
- You may connect Mark Mears on LinkedIn | Facebook.
- You may connect Mark Mears on his Website.
- You can Take FREE Purposeful Growth Self-Assessment
- For more Informative Interviews Click Here.
Episode Highlights
Mark Mears' Journey and Background
- Daryl Urbanski introduces Mark Mears, highlighting his extensive experience in executive leadership at iconic brands and his creation of the leaf growth model.
- Mark Mears shares his unexpected journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, starting from his time at the University of Kansas.
- He discusses his initial career aspirations to be a lawyer and how a mentor, Dr. Tim Bankston, guided him towards marketing communications.
- Mark's education at Northwestern University, where he studied under Dr. Don Schultz, who developed the concept of integrated marketing communication (IMC), shaped his career foundation.
Career Highlights and Challenges
- Mark Mears recounts his career progression, including roles in advertising, marketing, and eventually becoming a CMO and president of a casual dining chain.
- Mark Mears describes the highs and lows of his career, including walking the red carpet at Hollywood premieres and facing challenging moments that led to his book.
- Mark shares a pivotal moment in 2013 when he was let go from his role despite turning around a brand's negative sales trend.
- This experience inspired him to develop the leaf growth model, which includes leadership, engagement, accountability, and fulfillment.
Building a Brand and Marketing Strategy
- Daryl and Mark discuss the process of rebuilding a brand, emphasizing the importance of not starting from scratch but building on existing assets.
- Mark Mears explains his approach to brand positioning, focusing on clarifying and enhancing what the brand is best at.
- They delve into the importance of brand awareness and the role of social media in spreading positive experiences.
- Mark introduces his "think, feel, do, relate" marketing model, which includes rational, emotional, and social elements.
The Importance of Customer Relationships
- Daryl and Mark discuss the significance of customer retention and the value of repeat customers.
- Mark emphasizes the need to maximize relationships with guests, clients, or customers to create a loyal customer base.
- They explore the idea that businesses exist to help people with their needs, whether it's dental care, dining, or entertainment.
- Mark Mears highlights the role of team members, business partners, and the community in the success of a business.
The Leaf Growth Model and Purposeful Growth
- Mark Mears introduces the leaf growth model, which stands for leadership, engagement, accountability, and fulfillment.
- He explains how each element represents different stages of growth, from the root system to the fruit.
- The model aims to create a nurturing environment for personal and professional growth.
- Mark mentions a self-assessment tool available on his website, which helps individuals and organizations evaluate their current state of purpose.
The Love Model for Leadership
- Mark Mears introduces the love model, which stands for listen, observe, value, and empower.
- He explains how this model helps managers grow into leaders and legacy builders.
- The importance of listening with empathy, observing in real-time, valuing the whole person, and empowering team members is emphasized.
- Mark shares a personal anecdote about learning to ride a bike with training wheels to illustrate the concept of empowerment.
Engaging and Empowering Team Members
- Mark Mears discusses the importance of creating an environment where team members feel valued and empowered.
- He highlights the need for regular and timely feedback to help team members grow and improve.
- The role of diversity and inclusion in fostering innovation and creativity is emphasized.
- Mark encourages leaders to create a sense of community and belonging within their teams.
The Role of Purpose in Work
- Daryl Urbanski and Mark Mears discuss the importance of purpose in the workplace, especially for millennials and Gen Z.
- Mark shares insights from Deloitte's research, indicating that nearly 90% of these generations want purpose at work.
- The concept of a life-work purpose balance is introduced, where work aligns with personal values and goals.
- Mark emphasizes the need for leaders to create a purposeful environment that serves as a North Star for their teams.
Skills and Habits for Effective Leadership
- Mark Mears shares his belief in the importance of research and trends in shaping leadership strategies.
- He discusses the Gallup State of the Global Workplace report, which highlights the decline in employee engagement.
- The need for leaders to focus on human issues, such as feeling cared about and having a sense of purpose, is emphasized.
- Mark introduces the love model as a framework for growing from a manager to a leader to a legacy builder.
Final Thoughts and Encouragement
- Mark encourages leaders to be curious, ask questions, and never think they have all the answers.
- He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and growth.
- Daryl and Mark discuss the value of the frameworks and models shared during the conversation.
- Mark Mears concludes by encouraging listeners to visit his website for more resources and to take the self-assessment.