HR Newsletters 2020

Love in the Workplace

Dr. Krystal Thurman

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, it’s time to think about love in the workplace. No, not that kind of love - agape love. At the Ignite Leadership Conference in Tupelo, MS, Ron Kitchens, CEO/ President of Southwest Michigan First, spoke about agape love and its powerful positive impact on the workplace environment. Working simply for a paycheck is thought to be a way of the past. In- stead, employees today seek more meaning and fulfillment from their work. As Stefano Tasselli ar- gues in this recent Forbes article, technology has stunted our awareness of the importance for “personal connections, compassion, and even love at work.” Love is key for motivating one’s staff. With all of this talk about love, let’s step back and review three types of love. First, eros is consid- ered passionate love and is what society associates with romantic love. The second type of love is philia , which in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is usually translated as friendship or affection. Tasselli describes this love as one built on trust and one that results in emotional bonds that can promote loyalty. Finally, the third type of love, and the focus of this article, is agape . Agape , which means compassion for humankind, is often considered the greatest of all loves for its unconditional and pure qualities. Leaders who display agape love are willing to show compassion, concern, and emotion towards their employees. This approach also extends to colleagues displaying the same behaviors to one another. Agape is a major motivator in the workplace and can be integral for the positive functioning of an or- ganization. Kitchens encouraged business leaders and managers to take the time each week to share verbal and written appreciation. He argued that expressing one’s appreciation to another is a huge endorphin release and critical motivator. Kitchens stated that four of the post powerful words that can be likened to fuel for any leader or organization are, “I believe in you.” As you spend time making Valentine’s Day plans, why not consider how to embrace agape love at work? What can you do to motivate others? What can you do to grow and develop stronger rela- tionships with others? Write a note of appreciation to someone. Journal something you are thank- ful for at work and verbally share that with someone. Show compassion and understanding when possible. In the famous, wise words of the Beatles – all you need is love, love is all you need!

Sources:

Kitchens, R. (2019, January). Leadership Talk. Ignite Leadership . Talk presented at 2020 Ignite Leadership conference, Tupelo, MS. Tasselli, S. (2019). The Biggest Motivator at Work? Love. Forbes . Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/ sites/rsmdiscovery/2019/07/16/the-biggest-motivator-at-work-love/#6b90c2a66d9c.

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