Seven Ways To Leverage Leader Love
Please forgive me, but in the spirit of Valentine’s Day I’ve written a cheesy list post. I personally hate lists, but I must confess that I do love when people visit my site, so it’s time to pander.
Let me see if I can fry this cheese and dip it in chocolate by making my list only about the letter “L”. So here are seven things you can do as a leader to show the love to your employees:
1. Learn: learning is the development of experience, insights, knowledge, and understanding that eventually leads to a change in behavior. Unless and until we do something different, we just have not learned. Hypocrisy is the gap between what we say we believe and value and how we are actually behaving. Confront your integrity gap and engage in the difficult work of learning to continuously improve your own behavior at work.
2. Listen: There is no substitute for caring. We know people care about us when they take the time to listen and respond. Make a special effort to listen to the folks that have the courage to tell you what you need to hear, not what they think you want to hear. After you listen, don’t forget to also open up and share of yourself.
3. Loathe: There is no substitute for performance. Mediocrity sucks – commit to loathing and confronting it when you see it in yourself and others. Inspire others to enact their best selves at work.
4. Leap: Give yourself permission to be excellent by doing the things others are not willing to do. Stop playing it safe – jump!
5. Lust: Lust for power because it is the heart of leadership. As you earn more power, use it to enable your people to fix crappy systems and continuously improve the work environment. Develop the strength of character to use your power to serve those you’ve been given the privilege to lead regardless of what they think of you.
6. Laugh: Happiness is a daily choice, and there is no reason you can’t choose to expect yourself and others to be happy at work. Savor the positive about the work you do, those you do it with and those you do it for. Celebrate good news and look for more reasons to just have fun and be happy.
7. Live: Leadership is a journey. For the sake of those you will influence along the way, make the most of your personal journey through life.
Try these seven things and expect your people to appreciate and return the love!
What do you think? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Related Posts:
Nine Supportive Leadership Behaviors
Want Your People To Care More? Help Them Perform Better
About the Author: Bret L. Simmons
Welcome to my blog! Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section of my posts. I publish all constructive, non-anonymous comments. 
Label me a longtime lover of alliteration, but liked your list of enlightened Leadership L words. I found it very L-evating. I might have added the following:
Loop in diverse people within your organization who can provide different insights and help you avoid silo-ism
Link up with others outside of your work environment who can reinforce your values
Lose the attitude and approach your work with humility
Lurk on Bret’s site more often
- – Beth
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
February 14th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
Oh, I like those! See how I suck at lists
Thanks! Bret
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Bret,
I really like that you included laugh. Far too often, people get so focused on the work they are doing and the challenges that it brings that they forget to enjoy life. It is important to laugh to enjoy life even when you may not particularly enjoy what you are doing. Make the best of every situation and take time to laugh. Thanks, Brandon
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 7:46 am
I need that reminder today, Brandon. Sometimes all you can do is laugh. Thanks! Bret
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Hi Bret
Great post! Succinct and thought-provoking.
I particularly like #7: Live. Too many leaders see leadership as a short-term assignments or stepping stones. Your reminder on the journey of leadership is very timely, especially on current focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
Ryan
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Welcome, Ryan. Leadership is indeed a role, but it’s a role that requires a lifetime of preparation to do well. We should never forget that the people we have the privilege to lead have lives outside of their roles as our followers. Thanks! Bret
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