Have you ever noticed a person who was struggling to do something and needed help or guidance? If you were the person who stepped in to help, you were leading with love.
Leading with love can look many different ways. Start with yourself- how do you lead your own day with love? What are you doing for the very first moments of your day to lead your life with love. I recently shared one example which is to bring someone you love to mind and think of how much you love them. Bring that feeling of love to full capacity within you- with your eyes still closed and before you even get out of bed. Some people meditate, some write. Really leading your life and your day with love is starting your day doing something or somethings that help you to feel good and bring good energy forward with you.
Leading with love in your life might be choosing to work in a field that you have a passion for, or volunteering for an organization that is meaningful to you.
As a leader, leading with love is essential. First, I believe that we are all leaders in our own lives. Walking our talk is a good example- with or without a title. Love isn’t something that gets talked a lot about at work. Learning through the VIA Character strengths and the US Army connection that love turns out to be a leadership strength was eye opening.
Of course it is a strength! When your people know you care about their well being at work at the deepest level, they give their all. The feel cared for, supported, loved. Coming alongside people who need help, even if it isn’t your job description is a way of showing love at work- for the person, for the company, for the results. Oh yeah, leading with love gets results. Good ones. It doesn’t matter what the hierarchy is, you leading with love in all areas of life is a gift.
How could you lead with love, instead of going to a meeting with a head full of steam? Who deserves some slack? What do you need to find out first about what they person is going through, doesn’t know, already knows? Where might you pause to switch gears to leading with love, rather than losing patience with someone at work, at home, driving or anywhere else?
This week:
Notice the opportunities you have to lead with love. Write them down. If you miss an opportunity and realize it later, lead with love with yourself, too. Write down what you missed, how you could have done it and how you could lead with love next time.