Comments: Cultivate Love
Steve,
I often speak of the "L" word in business, beginning with your love of your work because it connects to your purpose. There is also the "G" word and the "F" word as well of course.
Tom
Posted by Tom Brady at February 11, 2006 02:11 PM
I can not agree more about the importance of cultivating LOVE. I have, unfortunately, learnt from my personal painful experience that one who only speaks about love and leadership but treats his own partner crude and lies, one who does not know love is more about active verb but not just a simple 4 characters, ..... no matter what this person speaks about love or leaderships at work will be still 'POSING'.
Thanks to those painful experience that my ex- gave me in the past 4 years (he is the MD of CCL/BXL so he's the one speaks about laederships to his clients and colleagues everyday), now I realize the meaning of loving. I stop speaking the word of love or leadership, instead I put a lot of efforts by paying attention in tiny details that might affect people work and feeling; and most of all putting a lot of time and efforts in self-relection about my own deads, accepting the differences of others.
Posted by Agnes Hsiao at March 5, 2006 11:28 PM
I was lucky. To get the job as executive director, the finalists had to give a 30 minute presentation to the board, staff and members. One third of that presentation was 'why I want this job" which gave me the opportunity to really figure out what it was that I loved about the place, the people and the chance to be a part of it all.
Now having been chosen to lead Norskedalen, I continue to think about those reasons every day!
Posted by Diane Gunvalson at March 16, 2006 08:53 AM
Steve,
As you described in love, it is the best way to lead, to be transparent, have strenght of character and to have an err of gratitude for even being able to be in the game. A leader need not be a symbol of just power and resolve, but one of understanding and one of support.
A good leader will grow and develop his/her team first; if it be an employer then take care of the employee first and foremost, then let the employee and their combined tool sets take care of the customer and then in return, the customers efforts and hopefully loyalty will take care of the investor/investment.
Love and transparency be key in a plan for longevity, duplication, and attraction.
These are all characteristics of true love of either a person, event, company or cause, and will most likely stand the test of time.
Posted by Allan Wich at December 11, 2007 12:46 PM
I am a safety professional in the construction industry. Been so for 20+ years. When the safe performance of work stumbles lives are changed in very significant ways and love almost always enters the picture. Steve - your work has inspired me - every employee that I influence is introduced to the pursuit of OS!M in short order.
I often deal with other safety professionals who struggle with the conversations where the stakes are so high - most do not realize that those execs depend on us to absolutely engage when the stakes are HIGH - that IS the time to engage - when it is most uncomfortable - OS!M
Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by David at February 27, 2008 12:20 PM
Today is April 30th and everyone is looking forward to summer and no more snow and then today we woke up to a snowstorm. Everyone at work was in a negative mood and complaining about the weather. I sat and listened for about 10 minutes and decided I had to turn the day into a positive one with positive action. I had our utility assistant drive me to the supermarket and bought Grands Cinnamon Rolls, Dinty Moore Beef Stew, hard salome, cheese and cheddar/onion buns. I came back to work and put the cinnamon buns in the oven and had fresh coffee made for everyone. The smell warmed their senses and changed the overall mood. We also delivered some over to the police department. At lunch I made the stew and invited staff to make sandwiches so we didn't have to go out in the weather. Everyone has had a great attitude today. I jokingly told them that today no one could have anything but warm and fuzzy feelings. Hopefully tomorrow the sun will shine!!
Posted by Kathy Weber at April 30, 2008 02:36 PM
I couldn't agree with your comments more. While working on a book project this year, I had the pleasure of interviewing dozens of CEOs around the globe and I was surprised to hear more than a handful use the word "love" unabashedly in their description of effective leadership and management. Its something thats not talked about a lot. Kudos to you for both recognizing it and bringing it to the attention of budding leaders.
Posted by Umesh Ramakrishnan at June 3, 2008 10:21 AM
how come we've accepted without question that'love' is an unmentionable at work- for home display purposes? Steve, your piece on 'cultivate love' gave me an 'aha' moment. thank God macho concepts of command & rule are now seen for what they are-control tools-easy to move people around in their place? whereas love is the 'mystery' difficult to 'do'- but yielding so much. thanks Steve for putting love in its place-i.e wherever people are and not whether they are at home or work.
Posted by patricia ohakwe at June 10, 2008 04:31 AM