LEADERSHIP FORMULAS

BECAUSE GUESSING ISN’T A LEADERSHIP STRATEGY

Core Management Formulas

1. Clarity = Simplicity + Repetition
Say it clearly. Say it often. Then say it again.

2. Trust = Autonomy + Support
Let people run with it—but be there when it matters.

3. Good Feedback = Fast + Kind + Clear
Be quick. Be kind. Be clear.

4. Focus = Less + Priority
Say no more often. Protect what matters.

5. Team Energy = Purpose – Confusion
People work harder when they know why. By Justin Mecham

6. Accountability = Expectations + Follow-up
Tell them what good looks like, then check in.

Team Dynamics

Psych Safety = Listening – Judgment
Let people speak freely without paying a price.

Recognition = Public + Specific
Say their name. Say what they did. Mean it.

Conflict Repair = Ownership + Reset
”I was off. Let’s fix this.”

Motivation = Progress + Meaning
Tiny wins + real purpose = fire.

Resentment = Silence × Time
Fix the small stuff. Before it grows.

Drama = Assumptions × Gossip
Get the facts. Kill the triangle.

Output Management

Calendar = Priorities Made Visible
If it’s not on there, it’s not real.

Respect = Boundaries + Fairness
People don’t need to like you. They need to trust you.

Urgency = Emotion – Importance
Don’t let loud problems outrank quiet ones.

Clear Thinking = Space + Solitude
You can’t lead well if you never hear yourself think.

Burnout = Effort – Recovery
Work hard? Rest harder.

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Leadership isn’t a guessing game—

It’s a system you build on purpose:

Top leaders don’t guess how to lead.
And they don’t lead by reaction.
They build repeatable systems that work.

They use formulas like these:

  • Accountability = Expectations + Follow-up
  • Good Feedback = Fast + Kind + Clear
  • Team Energy = Purpose – Confusion
  • Clarity = Simplicity + Repetition
  • Trust = Autonomy + Support
  • Focus = Less + Priority

If your team is stuck—

Don’t blame effort.
Check the system.

  • Do they know what’s expected?
  • Do they know what matters most?
  • Do they feel seen, trusted, supported?

Most leadership breakdowns don’t start with people—

They start with missing pieces.

Great leaders rebuild the system:

  • Don’t let silence grow into resentment
  • Recognize effort in real time
  • Speak often and clearly
  • Stop gossip with facts
  • Address tension fast

And when the output starts slipping—

They don’t panic.
They zoom out:

  • Clarity beats control
  • Urgency ≠ importance
  • Burnout is not a badge
  • If it’s not scheduled, it’s not real
  • Deep work needs room to breathe

If your team feels lost—

Don’t push harder.
Build better systems.