Marc Lesser took a long road to his current work as an in-demand mindful leadership trainer to companies, teams, and cultures of varied stripes. Lesser describes himself as a 'stealth Zen teacher working in the business world.' He did indeed live at and eventually direct the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. He also earned an MBA and founded and was CEO of three companies, including Brush Dance, one of the first companies in the world to make products from recycled paper. Through all these endeavors, he crafted the practical, innovative practices of 'compassionate accountability' that he here elucidates.
He defines accountability as not just living up to obligations and responsibilities but also seeing clearly, staying focused on facts, and telling the truth, no matter what. Accountability should not be harsh or judgmental. Rather - because clarity demands empathy for others - it should breed communal, collective, effective effort toward common goals. Numerous examples address:
- facing rather than avoiding conflict for the long-term benefit of all
- working with and through difficult emotions with clarity, care, and connection
- practicing compassion toward others as well as oneself
- understanding the stories we live by and evaluating their contemporary relevance - or irrelevance
- learning to listen and lead in ways that align with one's mission and values with a focus on more meaning, connection, and clarity
- turning communication breakdowns into breakthroughs that foster win-win results for all
Lesser's writing and teaching style is eminently engaging. He works from the premise that problems are inevitable and that the success of any enterprise or relationship is not the absence of such problems but the manner in which they are resolved. This applies to any joint effort - in a workplace, a family, a civic organization, a community, a country, or the world at large.
