Love In Leadership
Loving those we serve is an important part of leadership because it creates a positive and supportive environment. If we genuinely care about the well-being of our team members, this love fosters trust, collaboration, and motivation. It’s more than having people feel valued and appreciated; it’s about their leaders truly having their best interests at heart and acting on their behalf. First, this love in leadership is the right thing to do for others. Second, this love leads to higher job satisfaction, increased productivity, and stronger loyalty towards the organization. Finally, love in leadership helps build strong relationships and enables leaders to better understand and meet the needs of their team members.
Yesterday at a reception I was attending in Tucson, Arizona I told a table of full of teachers, “thanks for being so engaged during sessions I had done during the day.” Then after we had chatted for a bit and I was getting ready to move along to chat with others, I told them that I loved them. One in the group was impressed with my use of love. We then got into a discussion of what “love” means in the context I was using it in. I love, pun intended, having that discussion because I believe we must love others. It means we are practicing both the golden rule and the platinum rule. So, how do we really provide love for others?
A friend of mine Dr. Lindan Hill shared Ashley Montague‘s definition of love, “Profound involvement in the well-being of others,” with me. Dr. Hill and I have had many a discussion about this and we are both very committed to loving those we serve. I believe Montague’s definition refers to a deep and genuine concern for the welfare and happiness of other people. It suggests that love goes beyond superficial feelings or attachment and is a genuine desire and commitment to support and care for others. This love is selfless. I want to emphasize here the active engagement that love entails, rather than simply a passive affection or attraction. Ultimately, loving those we serve allows for effective and compassionate leadership that brings out the best in everyone involved.
Byron's Babbles 
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