On Love & Leadership

By Ethan Nash

"Being listened to feels so much like being loved that people can scarcely tell the difference." ~ David Taylor-Klaus

I believe we shouldn’t be afraid to bring love into our leadership at work.

Especially when we are in positions of power, showing up with love matters a ton. Leading with love means caring about their growth, their dignity, and their well-being, even when the conversation is tough.

We can deliver hard feedback and difficult news with clarity and love. In fact, honesty and clarity can be an act of love. And we can love people without always liking everyone.

It’s not uncommon for me to end a team email or meeting with “I love you all.” Some people probably think that’s "cringe." And I don’t care, because I mean it. It’s a value I try to live and lead by.

In the Buddhist tradition, as I understand it, love isn’t seen as a passive emotion. It’s a cultivated practice. It's loving-kindness: the sincere wish for others to be happy and free from suffering.

That’s the kind of love I’m talking about. And many of the ways we can express that kind of love at work are actually skills that can be learned and practiced.

Listening well is one of them.