Let 2025 be the year to lead with love—championing others, choosing what’s right over what’s easy, and seeing the good in every soul, even when it’s hard.

           – N. Anderson

A Year of Learning

A year ago, I was called, inspired to explore love-led leadership. I began researching, talking and writing more about it.  I am amazed by how much has been written about the importance and impact of leading with love. Sure, there was some fear of people rolling their eyes and writing off love-led leadership. But I couldn’t let it go. Truth is, it’s much more difficult to lead with love than not. More on that below.

Part of leading with love requires personal reflection, digging deep and accepting who you are, all the parts. Leading with love starts within. If you’re not feeling it, it’s awfully hard to share it. It’s a journey some are simply afraid to begin. I was right there. Again, it’s not easy, but boy is it worth it.

I will continue learning for the rest of my life.

But I think the biggest a-ha moment was understanding that love-led leadership isn’t just for the workplace, it’s a lifestyle. How I show up at work, is how I show up in life.

Why Love-led Leadership Matters

Nicole Heimann, in her article Love is the Key to Transformative Leadership, writes:

“We are used to using our cognitive intelligence, but we must learn to use and integrate our heart intelligence in order to expand our authentic leadership. A leader connected to their heart makes decisions differently. With the best interest of their employees and the world at large in mind, they may shift away from a mindset that is result- and profit-driven only.”

I love “heart intelligence.” It offers another way of thinking about leadership. Some might misinterpret heart-led leadership much like love-led leadership, that it’s soft or spineless. Both require courage. Whether personal or professional, it’s about setting boundaries and staying consistent with those boundaries. This cultivates a culture of respect and trust. It also creates relationships that are more meaningful.

In my experience, love-led leadership translates into people-led leadership—and when people feel valued and trusted, they give their best, and they are loyal. For businesses, they’ll see profits improve. Who’d a thought?

Let Love-led Leadership Be Your Guide

Love-led leadership is pretty straightforward: there’s no downside. A poster in my office reads, “Love Always Wins,” and I believe it’s true. The results may not always look the way I expected, but when love is the priority, decisions and actions help and heal rather than command and condemn.

As we step into 2025, consider letting love-led leadership guide you. Choose to see the best in others, nurture your teams and communities, and prioritize what’s right over what’s easy. Imagine the ripple effect if we all chose to lead with love, every single day.

Here’s to a year of meaningful connections!

Wishing you a love-filled 2025!

Love,

Nicki