Organizations are social structures, created to multiply the talents and skills of people, at rates exponentially higher than could be achieved individually. So why do so many people and organizations underperform? Why are only 13% of employees engaged and why do so many merely tolerate their jobs? Why are so many offices toxic?
A key reason is that our leaders lack love.
About now, you may be debating whether to continue reading. I realize I just went off the rails a bit. But the reality is that love does equate to greater performance, ROI, and job satisfaction.
Leadership is Love
I remember the first time it happened to me. I was walking down a very narrow hallway of the mid-sized organization I worked for. I suddenly realized the CFO was walking towards me. Because we'd never met, I became a bit nervous, afraid I'd say something stupid. As it turns out I shouldn't have been. As he approached me, he tucked his head down, focused on his shoes and strolled right by me. I was stunned and hurt; I hoped he was simply busy or having an off-day. But then it happened again, and then again. I quickly realized it wasn't just him - it was part of the culture. Common dignity and courtesy were replaced with status and elitism. My stint in that organization was brief. Their corporate performance was, and is, abysmal.
The other day, a friend was sharing about a prior supervisor she had poured herself out for. She thought they were close, but as soon as he was promoted it was as if he didn't know her. "I wandered if he ever cared about me, or simply used me to get his new job," she lamented.
Leadership is Love
This "love" should not be confused with romantic feelings or strong positive sentiments, such as mine towards cheeseburgers. For leaders, love is seeking the best interests of those around you, even if and when it comes at a personal cost. Love is about caring for, and demonstrating that care, for others - at times like an extended family. Think about your favorite boss; odds are, they demonstrated this type of love toward you.
Here are a few practical tips for starters:
- Acknowledge others' presence. It can be a simple smile, head-nod (more a guy thing), handshake, or "hello," ("hallo" as my African friends say it). For those on your team, a great practice is developing a daily habit of walking around the cubes and greeting each person by name. It doesn't have to take long; this simple act goes a long way and people take notice!
- Seek to make others better, and their lives easier. It's easy to have people scurry about to accomplish your needs. But when was the last time you genuinely sought to lighten the load, pitch in and make someone else's day better? Are you seeking to develop your staff, particularly the things core to their passions?
- Make Sacrifices. Sometimes this is simply being vulnerable and sharing a part of yourself. Sometimes it is putting your neck on the line for someone else. Other times it means being willing to miss a deadline to release a person to deal with a problem at home.
- Be generous with praise! People need affirmation and encouragement. The cost is incredibly low. Be specific, as in, "I noticed you how you handled that difficult customer, well done."
- Be truthful; have the difficult conversations when necessary - No one likes to think they're doing well when they are not, or that they are adding value when their usefulness has passed. But often, through fear, we don't deal with hard truths because we are more concerned with ourselves than loving those we need to engage. Have a hard conversation. Tell the truth. But do so lovingly.
Love is patient. It is kind. It is not proud or rude. It doesn't demand it's own way. It is not irritable nor keeps a record of wrong. It does not rejoice at injustice but does rejoice at the truth. It never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Other Related Posts
The Seven Traits of Leadership
Leadership is Discipleship
Leadership Starts with Character
Leadership is Humility
Leadership is Courageous
Sources
How Organizational Love Can Improve Leadership (Rodney Ferris) http://insightu.net/content/ll/organizationallove140227.pdf
Love the Killer App (Tim Sanders)
