Love-Led Leadership widens belonging instead of shrinking it.  – N. Anderson

Leadership is Getting It

I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. Between political division, distrust, social division, workplace stress, it’s a lot.

And when systems feel unstable, people don’t just crave capability, they want leaders who genuinely care. They want some love.

Not the romantic kind. The agape kind. A self-giving, steady love that seeks the good in others without expecting anything in return.

It’s the kind of love that when you ask, “How are you?” you’re actually interested. It’s love that shows up with respect, compassion, and a shared commitment to doing good. And here’s what I’ve been noticing, leaders are starting to use that word out loud.

Governor J.B. Pritzker recently shared in his State of the State address: “The bravest thing any of us will ever do in this life is to love without promise of reciprocation. Because love’s ferocity does not dim with rejection. Try to banish love to a shadow and it will only reach harder for the sun.” This is leading with love in a nutshell.

In business circles, the language is shifting. Leadership expert Marcus Buckingham told a room full of chief people officers, “Love is the most powerful force in business. Full stop. It drives performance, loyalty, innovation, resilience.”

And Leena Nair, CEO of Channel shared, “The second hallmark of my leadership, which I hope that’s what people say, is that I truly believe in benevolence, in kindness, in compassion, in empathy. I mean, you’ve gotta do tough things in business, but doing it compassionately is very important to me.”

They may not all define it the same way, but the common thread is clear: empathy, care, humanity, connection.

Love.

The Eye Roll

I’ve been talking about leading with love for quite some time, and it’s often met with an eye roll. Why? Because love in leadership is viewed as soft. But it’s the opposite. It takes courage to lead with love. It takes commitment to see people as human when it would be easier to reduce them to roles, opinions, or performance metrics. It takes commitment, to yourself and to every person you interact with to protect dignity even when you disagree. And it’s hard, I know.

But when leaders commit to leading with love, it widens belonging instead of shrinking it.

Perhaps This Is the Shift

I really don’t think leading with love is a trend. I think it’s a realization. And maybe even a correction. Even the best strategy in the world, without care, will divide.

Love, when properly understood, is what makes leadership trustworthy. Without it, leadership can feel self-serving, controlling. With it, leadership becomes service.

And maybe, just maybe, the reason we’re hearing leaders say “love matters” is because they finally see what’s been missing.

And people finally believe it.

Here’s to leading with love!

Love,

Nicki