Work That Works

Principle #7LoveCare for Your People and the Profits Will Come

Let me start by saying the word so seldom uttered in the corridors of business: LOVE.

See? Nothing bad happened.

I am not talking about office romance, or your love of God and country, or your family love, or even how much you love your dog. I am referring to leadership love.

As a leader, you know what it feels like to have stewardship over people who depend on you, and look up to you, and to whom you owe your success. If you really cannot stand anyone who works for you, you should get a new job because you cannot succeed alone. Your organization will not thrive without your attention and love.

I am in charge of a successful business. I am fortunate. I worked hard. But I am not superior to my employees. Because of my relationship with them, they are better people and I am a better person. We both grow. My promise to them is that I will be honest, kind, encouraging, supportive, and uplifting. Sometimes our relationship will hurt. I may give them constructive feedback, but they will be better for it, and I will be better for it because I will not have compromised my integrity by looking the other way.

I experience leadership love for my workers. I see their familiar faces and know I am in the right place. They see me and have confidence that someone is in charge of our ship. This workplace love is mutual, and ...