Leading with love means instilling a sense of emotional harmony on your team. This doesn’t mean that everyone will agree all the time—they won’t—but that everyone trusts that their feelings are going to be surfaced and honored. Here’s how to create that feeling on your team.
Set a clear leadership tone. Are you calm and steady? Passionate and energetic? Analytical? There’s nothing less confidence inducing than an emotionally unpredictable leader. Present a consistent emotional tone to your team and they’ll be more likely to follow suit.
Use rituals, stories, and symbols. Harmony is reinforced through shared experiences. Whether it’s a weekly reflection, a shared team motto, or a celebration ritual, create consistent touchpoints that reinforce connection.
Check in consistently, with light-touch frequency. Don’t wait for formal performance reviews to check in with your employees. Instead, have weekly 15-minute one-on-ones with each person. Focus on two questions: “What did you love or loathe last week?” and “What are you working on this week, and how can I help?” This simple check-in rhythm ensures that you’re staying in touch with where each team member is emotionally throughout the year. |
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This week’s tips are adapted from Marcus Buckingham’s new book, Design Love In: How to Unleash the Most Powerful Force in Business (HBR Press). The book posits that love—the deep connection that makes people feel seen, valued, and inspired—isn’t just a soft feeling, but a measurable driver of performance and growth. Buckingham identifies five feelings leaders must foster in their employees to lead them with love. Each day this week, we’ll be outlining one of these key feelings, and how to nurture it on your team.
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