Mark Mears is back on The Corporate Couch to talk about his brand-new book, LOVE@WORK: Creating Communities of Purpose and Belonging for Revolutionary Growth in a New World of Work. In his follow-up to The Purposeful Growth Revolution, Mark makes a bold claim: the key to transforming business isn’t strategy or systems, it’s love.

Before you call HR, hear him out. Mark breaks down his new “LOVE” model for leadership:

Listen graciously to build trust.
Observe generously to invest in others.
Value gratefully to show appreciation.
Empower generatively to help people grow.

We discuss why traditional “command and control” management no longer serves modern organizations, the importance of language in shaping community (vs. culture), and how belonging, not hierarchy, creates stronger teams. Mark also shares stories from his hospitality and marketing career, his belief in the “power of four,” and why he’s declared 2025 “The Year of Love.”

This conversation is a reminder that putting the human back in human resources isn’t just a nice idea; it’s a business imperative.

Here is the Amazon Link for Mark's book: Love @ Work

Mark Mears on Love at Work: Why Listening, Valuing, and Empowering Others Drives Real Growth