Love Works: Seven Timeless Principles for Effective Leaders

“Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.”

Let others make the decisions for which they are responsible.

four primary kinds of love: eros, philos, storge, and agape.

A leader must choose carefully when he or she is going to step in and get involved in decision-making details. If done too often, it shows a lack of trust—and if the team is talented, they will sense the leader’s distrust and may even leave the company.

If I find myself getting too involved because I’ve lost faith in a person’s judgment or that person is indecisive and holding up proper progress, I have to replace that person with someone I can trust. In the interim, I may have to make more autocratic decisions.

Leading with love isn’t possible if you don’t trust people. And when you do trust people, leading will be more effective than ever.

If you go a different direction, articulate why. Always try to explain your logic when differing with some of your team. They may not agree, and that’s okay, but you’ll all know what everyone is thinking.

Certainly, there are times when private admonishment is not the right course of action for a leader, but even then we must remain patient and respectful.

This scene epitomizes the role patience plays in leading with love.