Welcome to Friday 411, issue #100. In 4 minutes, with 1 insight and 1 action, you will be equipped to show love to the people you lead.
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1 Insight
Love is the most transformational force in the universe and plays a vital role in your leadership success.
As we’re sending this newsletter, it’s Valentine’s Day 2025. The Day of Love. The English language doesn’t do a great job of differentiating all varying types of love. We love each other differently than we love our kids, than we love our Jeep, than we love tacos. Even with inadequate language, love for the people we work with should be expressed.
Love is the most transformational force in the universe. When someone loves you, it changes the way you feel about yourself, and it affects the way you treat others. When you reflect on your life, the greatest positive influences were the people who loved you.
Love changes those it lands on. Unfortunately, it’s often left at the door when leaders start their day at work. Many consider it to have no place in the workforce.
We believe that the best leaders intentionally show love to their teams. So does John Rex, the former CFO at Microsoft. You read that correctly: the Chief Financial Officer. Words like “love” don’t typically describe most CFOs.
In Rex’s Forbes article, he writes, “If the idea of practicing love in the workplace feels awkward, think about this: great leaders aren’t ashamed to bring love into the workplace. Consider the leaders you admire most and ask yourself why you admire them…. Even if they don’t consciously think of their behavior as love, they act out of sincere regard for the people around them. Isn’t that love?”
Like John Rex, we believe that love belongs in the workforce and has the power to transform your team. So, in honor of Valentine’s Day, here are 13 practical ways to show love to your team.
- Create Clarity About Goals and Objectives
Brené Brown wrote, “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.” Help your team understand what’s most important. When everyone knows the goals, you remove the stress and chaos of unclarity.
- Believe in Them More Than They Believe in Themselves
Show your team members that you have faith in their abilities. Give them stretch challenges. Your confidence empowers them to reach higher and achieve more than they thought possible.
- Have Hard Conversations When Necessary
Every teammate makes mistakes. When you need to, address issues directly and honestly. This might not feel loving in the moment, but handling the hard things show you care about their development.
- Ask About Their Families and Hobbies
Most people don’t work for the fun of it. They work to provide for the people they love and to fund a lifestyle they enjoy. Show interest in their lives outside of work so they know you see them as more than “just an employee.”
- Celebrate Their Birthdays
Birthdays are special. It’s the one day each year that’s dedicated to an individual. Whether you text someone, sing Happy Birthday to them, or treat them to lunch, acknowledge them!
- Address Challenging Teammates
Sometimes teams have difficult team members – even high-performing ones. It’s unloving to allow one person’s bad behavior to disrupt the team.
- Help Them Achieve Personal and Professional Goals
Support your team member’s aspirations. Whether it’s a work-related certification or a personal milestone (like running a half marathon), your encouragement makes a difference. It’s even better if your department can allocate resources for these goals.
- Discourage Busyness—and Model It Yourself
Busyness is an overcommitment to too many good commitments. Encourage your team to set boundaries so that work responsibilities don’t consume their lives. After all, when they struggle in their life outside work, it will impact their effectiveness at work. Lead by example to show that it’s great to take time for yourself and the other people you love.
- Hold Them to High Standards While Providing Support
Setting high expectations signals you believe in the person. Providing the guidance they need to meet those standards adds love to your belief.
- Put Down Your Phone When They Talk to You
Studies have found that the mere presence of a mobile device during a conversation can hinder trust. The simple act of pocketing your phone demonstrates respect and that you value the person who’s speaking to you. If you need to capture notes on the conversation, let them know why you’re picking up the phone.
- Give Them Trust Before They Earn It
People don’t earn trust. You give it to them first. Your trust empowers them to take ownership and perform at their best.
- Develop the Leader Within Each of Them
Encourage leadership at all levels. Even if you don’t have a specific leadership role for them yet, let them run point for a team meeting or a short-term project. By nurturing their leadership skills, you help them grow and prepare for future challenges.
- Tell Them You Love Them
This advice can feel awkward. But we have seen wonderful leaders tell their team members that they love them. It’s not okay if you use the words to control or manipulate your team. If you are genuine, these words can be powerful.
1 Action
Choose at least one of these actions to start demonstrating love this week.