Tragically, very few leaders and businesspeople take the time to reflect on why they care about anything they do; why they care about the decisions they make; why they care about their customers and employees; or why they care about their business beyond the paycheck and bottom line.
And even for those that do, the act of “caring,” as important as it is, doesn’t go far enough. Because our real efficacy as leaders–and, I’d argue, all human beings–is rooted, ultimately, in love.
Love of what future we’re trying to create together, love of what principle we’re trying to live out, love of what people I have around me, and love of what they want for their lives. Love of what customers I have, and love of what customers I might have in the future if I’m smarter, faster, and more creative in serving their needs. Love of what impact we can have on the lives of our customers and–if we’re audacious enough–on the world as a whole. Love of what our business really is, and love for what–when we cut away the chaff–we really do every day.
And why is this so critical?
Because if I love who we are, and if I love what we can be, then I’ll love the process of how we get there. And in order to make it all happen, I will act boldly and courageously and I will, at times, fail magnificently. But my love demands that I try.
Demands it.
What can you do to fall in love with something about your work, your colleagues, your team, your clients, your customers and–bottom line–your life?
Exceptional, Steve. More people need to find an read this weekly. Purpose lives in the hearts and minds of those that serve it, and it is orders of magnitude more powerful than either mission or vision for guiding the daily behavior of people at work. Bret
Exceptional, Steve. More people need to find an read this weekly. Purpose lives in the hearts and minds of those that serve it, and it is orders of magnitude more powerful than either mission or vision for guiding the daily behavior of people at work. Bret
Last year, our company adopted Kouzes & Posner’sLeadership Model. This year, we rolled it out to the entire company. I was honored to serve as the first “champion” for the encourage the heart champion. Over and over throughout the year, people would confess to a certain lack of comfort with the idea of love in the workplace. The heart of leadership grows out of love. Thank you for making this connection.
Last year, our company adopted Kouzes & Posner’s Leadership Model. This year, we rolled it out to the entire company. I was honored to serve as the first “champion” for the encourage the heart practice. Over and over throughout the year, people would confess to a certain lack of comfort with the idea of love in the workplace. The heart of leadership grows out of love. Thank you for making this connection.