Comments on: Love and Leadership

By: Wendy Willimas

Wendy Willimas — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:43:00 +0000

I agree. There is a good book out by Tim Saunders: Love is the Killer App.. a style I have personally practiced in sales leadership since the late 1970s. I hope this conversation continues and gets around.. It makes for a better world.
xxWendy Williams / VP Sales, Partner/JR Resources

By: Kris McDonell

Kris McDonell — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 22:37:20 +0000

To say you are right on target is an understatement. Just look at how many comments you generated. Way to go out on a limb and include “love” with leadership. I admire this.

By: Mike Henry Sr.

Mike Henry Sr. — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:14:02 +0000

Thanks for the great post. You're right on regarding love. The emotion isn't the issue. The act of operating in the truest best interest of others is the issue. Anyone who doesn't care about others or who acts in their best interest for selfish reasons, just doesn't get it.

By: mikemyatt

mikemyatt — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 01:33:45 +0000

In reply to Mark Oakes. Hi Mark Thanks for the great insights Mark. I love the concept of viewing "love" as an action vs an emotion. By treating "love" as a verb and as such being actionable and intentional in its application, leaders can be more purposeful and consistent. Thanks for the astute observations Mark.

By: Mark Oakes

Mark Oakes — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:25:36 +0000

Great post, MIke!

Your readers have added many valuable comments to this thread. I agree with many of them. I’ll add another element that may clarify the periodic disconnect between the words ‘Leadership’ and ‘Love’.

Many view Love as an emotion. From this vantage point there are quick associations to adjectives like ‘compassionate’, ’empathetic’, ‘supportive’, etc. Love, however, isn’t an adjective. It is a verb. As such, the essence of Love is Action and in this context leadership action takes many forms as outlined in your post. When a leader’s focus has the sole interest of others at heart (love) these actions take countless forms, many of which may appear on the surface to be contradictory to each other (E.g. compassion vs steely resolve).

One final thought ~ Actions precede feelings. Leaders don’t have to “Feel like Loving” their people they just have to do it. Form this action habit, the leaders heart will eventually melt and the feeling is sure to follow.

By: mikemyatt

mikemyatt — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:58:09 +0000

In reply to ATIG. Agreed...Thanks for stopping by Sami.

By: ATIG

ATIG — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:25:53 +0000

Dear Mike,

The weak can never love.
Without the love of women around us we are nothing.
What the sense of life after all without LOVE.

Thank you,
Sami

By: mikemyatt

mikemyatt — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:32:42 +0000

In reply to Gwyn Teatro. Hi Gwyn: All of your points are well taken and spot-on. It appears we've finally found some common ground :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts Gwyn.

By: Gwyn Teatro

Gwyn Teatro — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 20:21:39 +0000

Mike , so many view kindness, empathy, compassion and love as elements foreign to business environments and strong leadership. You have clearly demonstrated that nothing could be further from the truth. To me, far from being soppy and weak, love is tough, strong and amazingly resilient. And it gives us the strength to do things and risk things that, without it, we might never otherwise consider.
Thank you for a heartening post.

By: mikemyatt

mikemyatt — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:57:48 +0000

In reply to Dan Collins. Thanks for both the thoughtful words and astute insights Dan. Your words resonate with me because I know that but for the love of those who have selflessly invested in me I would not be where I am today. The truly great thing about loving leaders is that their interest in you isn't fleeting and will endure life's ordinary ups and downs that fracture relationships built on weaker foundations. Thanks for sharing Dan.