Valentine’s Day provides a good opportunity to think about the subject of love at work. Historically, the word “love” has been largely left out of conversations about the workplace, as if it doesn’t belong there. That belief is crumbling as we have learned what it takes to sustain a successful enterprise. Positive and healthy human relationships are now clearly acknowledged as a critical variable for success, not to mention for meaning and satisfaction. In their great book, Leadership Challenge, James Kouzes and Barry Posner end their 400 pages with these final thoughts: “The best kept secret of successful leaders is love… Leadership is not an affair of the head. Leadership is an affair of the heart.”

Food for Thought ~

Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One-Minute Manager and a host of other books, has been a leading figure in contemporary management and leadership training for 30 years. I recently heard a live interview with Ken, and when asked for his “bottom line best advice” for leaders, this was his reply: “Love is the answer. Now what’s the question?”

Question of the day ~

Does love have a place at your place of work? Does your company culture encourage treating one another with kindness, respect and appreciation?