Great leadership starts with connecting as a person, not commanding from a position. In this episode, Karin Reed is joined by Mark Carpenter, the best-selling author of “Lead Like a Person, Not a Position,” to discuss how leaders can prioritize human connection over authority. Mark shares the personal regrets that fueled his mission to help leaders avoid the pitfalls of positional power and lead with empathy and humanity.
Through a career anecdote, Mark points out the consequences of leadership that’s rooted in authority—damaged trust, strained relationships, and high turnover—and explains why treating team members as people rather than subordinates is essential in today’s knowledge-based economy.
Mark introduces three actionable behaviors for leading like a person: listening intently to understand issues fully, communicating clearly to build trust, and recognizing contributions in meaningful ways. These habits do not only strengthen teams but also foster environments where people thrive.
The episode also tackles the challenge of leading authentically in cultures that reward hierarchy. Mark provides insights on whether those environments align with a leader’s values and shares a success story of a leader who embraced these principles to build a solid team.
Mark’s final takeaway? Leadership is a choice. Be intentional about the legacy you want to create.
Quotes
- “The times that I had the most regrets about were the times when I treated people less well than they deserve. I didn't treat people like the people they deserve to be treated like.” (01:56 | Mark Carpenter)
- “If you’re not listening intently, you are likely, as a leader, to come up with a brilliant solution to the wrong problem.” (11:45 | Mark Carpenter)
- “You can’t hold people accountable for behaviors that you haven’t made clear to them. And so, communicating intentionally is being really clear about what those expectations are.” (16:13 | Mark Carpenter)
- “Be intentional and conscious about who you want to be as a leader and what legacy you want to leave behind as a leader.” (25:34 | Mark Carpenter)
Links
Connect with Mark Carpenter:
Website: LeadLikeAPerson.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-carpenter-0b55221/
Connect with Karin Reed:
Website: www.speakerdynamics.com
Speaker Dynamics University: https://university.speakerdynamics.com/
Speaker Dynamics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakerdynamics/
Karin Reed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-reed/
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