“How are you?”
It’s a simple question, hard to answer right now. Morale and energy are hard to summon.
As leaders, we need to protect our positivity more than ever. We need to protect our confidence. We need to protect our energy.
But how, in the face of so much uncertainty?
Fret not! Solutions are at hand.
Love is the first leadership principle.
Love is an excellent emotion. It’s generous and fulfilling. It’s selfless. It’s abundant. It boosts the immune system.
Whenever we go into survival mode, or get weighed down with worry, love is a good counterpoint.
Do a love rant.
Start with things around you. For example, I love the plant that continues to grow in my window. I love the sounds of birds in the morning. I love the sunshine and blue sky. I love the warmth of my slippers. I love the taste of fresh water. I love the excitement I get when I start reading a new book. I love the hot pink colour of my nail polish.
Once you’ve gotten on a roll with the small things, move your focus to others.
Here is my love rant for my Amplifiers, leaders like you:
Dear Leaders,
I am so grateful for your courage. I am grateful for your persistence. I am grateful that you dared to lead so others can feel uplifted. I am grateful for your humility and openness. I am grateful for your willingness to experiment. I am grateful for your reaching out for support. I am grateful for when you acknowledge you don’t know what’s next, and carry on, knowing that you will find a way. I love how you want to be better. I love how you acknowledge that you don’t know everything, and want to learn more. I love how much you care about your people. I love how much you care about your mission. I love how much you want to make the world a little better. I love how you work on being a better leader, a better parent, a better spouse, a better human. I love that you can still make mistakes and laugh about them. I love how you wake up each morning, and no matter what you are feeling, you get up and try again. Thank you, for the work you do in the world. People and the planet are better off because you are in it.
👉🏽 Write a love rant to your team. It will shift your emotional state, and is a true gift to them.
Levity is a leadership strength
One of my mentors said that the more serious the topic, the more important it is to laugh. This is why comedians are so essential in helping us cope with the heavier aspects of our world.
Here are some of my go-tos to help with shifting mood:
Jimmy Rees’s youtube series about the pandemic called, Meanwhile in Australia
Honest Trailers - hilarious reviews of movies
Book recommendation, from my brother Alex (who is a very funny guy): The 100 year old man who climbed out a window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
👉🏽 I would love your suggestions too! Send them on through.
***
Related Articles:
Love, leadership and the search for meaning
Leadership Practice #2: The Practice of Self Love
A simple framework for leadership reflection
***
About the author, Canberra leadership expert Zoë Routh:
Canberra based leadership expert, Zoë Routh, on love as the first leadership principle.
Zoë Routh is one of Australia’s leading experts on people stuff - the stuff that gets in our way of producing results, and the stuff that lights us up. She works with the growers, makers, builders to make people stuff fun and practical.
Zoë is the author of four books: Composure - How centered leaders make the biggest impact, Moments - Leadership when it matters most, Loyalty - Stop unwanted staff turnover, boost engagement, and build lifelong advocates, and People Stuff - Beyond Personalities: An advanced handbook for leadership. People Stuff was awarded Book of the Year 2020 by the Smart WFM Australian Business Book Awards.
Zoë is also the producer of The Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast.