Mark Deavall
Real-Time Leadership: Navigating Change, Driving Results
Hi, I'm Mark. I'm a human productivity specialist and the Managing Director of Merit Business Institute.
With decades of business experience and battle-tested insights, I help managers develop the skills they need to lead effectively and drive results. My clients consistently tell me that my practical, no-nonsense approach transforms the way they manage and lead.
The people I work with call me "Coach." Yes, I teach. Yes, I train. Yes, I show & tell. Yes, I counsel, but mostly, I coach. The thing is: humans learn by doing. When I work with managers, I let them "go do," then we get back together to see how it worked - or didn’t work - and fine-tune. It works, and they find it helpful. That’s why I’ve been doing it for over 36 years and will continue to do so!
In a nutshell, I work with managers to help them use high-productivity tools to develop tailored strategies that drive growth and success.
Looking back at my work history, I started pretty much at the bottom in business—first selling life insurance and quickly moving on to being a manager. That’s where my love for management was born. I had some pretty smart managers (coaches) in the companies I worked for, who helped me along the way too, and I’ll always be grateful for their guidance—not to mention a few corrective kicks in the you-know-where. It didn’t take long to realize that my future didn’t lie in corporate, but in "working with corporate." I took the leap, started my own business, and never looked back.
Fast forward 36 years, and I’ve worked with several thousand managers, supervisors, sales managers, salespeople, project managers, and others across diverse industries, helping them on their career journeys. Over the years, my passion for management and the fulfilling experience of guiding managers in their transformation into exceptional leaders has become my main focus.
There are no magic wands in life or business, but there are a few non-negotiable "rules" that, when followed, will lead ordinary managers to extraordinary achievements. That’s why I’ll continue doing what I’m doing for as long as I have life in me!
When I’m not prospecting for new clients, consulting, coaching managers on driving productivity, writing articles, disrupting people’s thinking on social platforms, or creating YouTube content for business and fun, I run. If I’m not running or exercising, I gather knowledge. My clients are often surprised by how much I know about their business and how well I understand their industries. For me, gathering and storing knowledge is a love, like enjoying good food.
When I’m not doing all of the above, I relax and spend time with my wife, Hilda—who’s also my right hand in the business—and my dog, Tobi, who believes he’s human.
I hope to meet you soon.
Mark
"You have enabled me to achieve my goals as an HR Director. When I contracted you to do this work, I fully expected to get good results based on the reference checks I performed as part of our contracting process. What I got however surpassed my expectations and l'm accustomed to people giving me feedback that l'm hard to please."
Human Capital Executive, IT Company
The "Management Made Easy" program has been an invaluable experience that has profoundly impacted my approach to leadership and management. Over the course of the program, I gained a wealth of knowledge and practical skills that I’m confident will drive significant improvements in both my personal effectiveness and the overall performance of our branches.
National Operations Manager, Transport & Logistics Company