What the CIA Taught Mike Mears About Building Leaders From the Inside Out
You’d be hard-pressed to find a leader with a career as diverse as Mike Mears. He served as Senior Vice President at GE Investments and was the CIA’s Chief of Human Capital, where he started the agency’s leadership academy. Beyond that, Mike has managed businesses of all sizes and is an accomplished author who recently published a book, Certainty: How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive Innovation. He embraces every role with authenticity, curiosity, and a desire to learn. And we’ve only scratched the surface.
Human Nature and Leadership
Mike’s perspective on what makes a good leader is fascinating. As a spy, he learned the power of understanding and leveraging what makes us tick as humans. The best leaders, as far as he sees, are watchers, listeners, and observers of human nature. I’m inclined to agree.
Wasted Potential in the Workplace
Leadership is getting people to move. Not just their hands but their hearts and their minds too. This story struck me. Mike was at a retirement dinner for the Union Chief at GE Investments, where the Union Chief stood before the CEO and said, “Mr. Welch, for 34 years, you've used my hands. If only you'd asked, you could have had my brain as well.” It got me thinking. How much potential are we wasting when we, as leaders, fail to inspire our teams? When do we fail to show people that they are valued? Before expecting employees to go above and beyond for our company, why not start by creating a company that goes above and beyond for its employees?
The Importance of Positive Feedback
When asked if he had any regrets from his early years as a leader, Mike said he had one. He wished he had given more positive feedback. As is in life, we often assume that people know what they mean to us. But the thing is, people don’t know what we never show. “I thought my A and B players knew they were A and B players. I didn't have to give them positive feedback,” said Mike. But after his years of service in the CIA and building businesses, Mike began to understand the oh-so-important human nature we discussed, realizing that a bit of positive feedback, even a short gesture that says, "I see you, and I appreciate you," can go a long way.
Intention vs. Perception
Mike also imparted the valuable distinction between intention and perception, saying, “It’s not what happened, it’s what we make of what happened.” This is why it’s so important to be an effective communicator. You could have the best of intentions, but if you aren’t transparent, it’s often within our nature to catastrophize. Without transparency and effective communication, our minds fill in the blanks.
Hope for the Future
“We know people are capable of doing great things, so let’s let them.” I love that quote from Mike. To him, creativity and innovation are innate elements of human nature. But it takes a good leader to draw those elements out. Mike expressed that his hope for the future hinges on whether we put good leaders in place to set the tone, guide us towards authenticity, and amplify the best in humanity. You can find out more about Mike or book him to speak at your next event here.
I am honored to get to speak with leaders like Mike who have insight to share with people at every level of their leadership journey. I invite you to listen to my podcast, Step Wise, for more incredible conversations with inspiring leaders. See you there!
