Ten ways to show love at work!
Yes, I know what you are thinking! - “What’s love got to do with it, right?
Wrong! love has everything to do with it, and here is why.
If you consider the shape of our world today, many negative behaviours and outcomes are rooted in the absence of love. It’s in the absence of acceptance, tolerance and kindness. It’s also in the presence of envy, anger, selfishness, gluttony and pride.
Love comes from a purposeful intention that wants the best for yourself, your team, your organisation and the communities your organisation serves.
Love works hard to deliver the best. Love does not cut corners to make a quick buck at the expense of the health & safety of others.
Love does not demean others so that you can get ahead.
Love creates opportunities for all regardless of race and ethnicity, gender, ability/disability, sexuality, religion or socio-economic background.
Love says - “I see you as human, I accept you, and I respect your space.”
Love does not condone bad behaviour but instead separates the behaviour from the person and extends grace that inspires and motivates one to do better.
Showing love in the workplace can substantially impact the happiness and well-being of yourself, your colleagues and other stakeholders, leading to improved morale, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. Love is the only way organisations can make a difference in society.
So now that we have established this philosophically, what can you do practically to show more love in the workplace? A little can go a long way from a simple gesture of kindness or a more intentional act!
Here are ten ways you can do just that;
Be supportive - Be there for your colleagues when they need support. Listen to what your coworkers and colleagues say with an open mind and heart. Show that you care about their opinions and thoughts. Offer encouragement, allyship and a shoulder to lean on during difficult times.
Offer Help - Help your colleagues with a task or project. You'll show your love and appreciation for them and help them get the job done. It’s a win-win!
Be generous - Be generous with your time and resources. Contribute to birthday, promotion, leaving, wedding and other milestone gifts. Attend events when invited and be a gracious guest.
Express Gratitude - Saying "thank you" can go a long way. Take the time to express gratitude to those around you, whether simply for their presence or a job well done.
Give compliments - Give genuine compliments to your colleagues. Let them know what you admire about them and what value they bring to the table.
Celebrate successes - Celebrate the achievements of your colleagues, no matter how big or small. Recognise their achievements and let them know that you're proud of them.
Provide feedback - Give constructive rather than destructive feedback to your coworkers and colleagues to help them grow and improve. This shows that you care about their growth and well-being. I write about this extensively in chapter 8 of Visible Strengths.
Practice forgiveness - Forgive those who may have wronged you and try not to hold their mistakes against them. Holding grudges can create tension and negativity, whereas forgiveness can lead to building stronger relationships.
Deliver with excellence - Be intentional about making sure you produce quality work. Setting a standard of excellence for yourself shows you care about the outcome of your work, both seen and unseen. I write about this also in chapter 8 of Visible Strengths.
Share positive energy - Bring positive energy to the workplace by smiling, laughing, and being cheerful. This will not only make you feel better but also those around you.
In her book, Beyond Engagement: the value of love-based leadership in the workplace, author Yetunde Hoffman explains (and I paraphrase) that love is the unconditional acceptance of all of who you are and all of who others are, which creates space for everyone to show up authentically. This is important for creating a positive, supportive, and enjoyable work environment that fosters likeability and trust.Although you may not realise it, your acts of expressing love are a tangible way of adding value in the workplace, and who wouldn’t want a visibly valuable person around?
This article was written by Mary Mosope Adeyemi, career strategist and author of Visible Strengths, which is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Roving Heights and Scribd today.
