Leading with Love: Five Practical Tips

Abstract

We believe, as Donabedian taught us, that “the secret of quality is love.” It is possible to lead with love and discover abundance among teams who feel safe, cared for, and aligned toward common purpose and their own professional growth. We offer five practical tips for leaders’ consideration: (1) focus on the people; (2) develop a culture of professional diastole; (3) foster relational trust by reducing the vulnerability of others; (4) make sure the right people are in the right seats on the bus; and (5) administer policies with kindness and common sense. The return on this investment is non-linear and difficult to tally on a spreadsheet, yet it delivers the results that matter most. In the end, we are human, and this is human work. What better time than now to make love the center of what we do.