What’s Love Got to Do With It?

Love in the workplace - wait a minute. Isn’t that frowned upon or prohibited?

Stay with us - we’re not talking about romantic love. Love shows up in many ways as a professional and as a leader. It shows up as the investment we make in staff and their career. It shows up through commitment to enduring professional relationships by having a hard conversation in order to strengthen said relationship. It shows up through the dignity and respect of diverse backgrounds, including all members of an organization in meaningful work, and working towards equity of opportunities. It honors different perspectives, demographics and meets challenges with deep curiosity and compassion rather than pity.

Love is steeped in dignity.

And just like romantic love, often our history, our stories, our blind spots, or our emotional regulation (or lack thereof) get in the way. “Different” can be uncomfortable. It can make us step out of our integrity and highest selves. Just the simple act of staying in the discomfort, staying curious about what we don't know, admitting when we were wrong, and being in a relationship with our colleagues and staff allow us to demonstrate love in action.

Our irreducible need for love, belonging, and being seen comes into all aspects of our life. To be human is to love. Where can you show love as a leader today?