Of Gutter Slugs, Leaders, and Love

Hi Kevin!

Great article! What a difference it would make if we own our behavior and took responsibility for the conditions we create in the workplace. As your own story illustrates, such positivity brings out the best in ourselves and others and that ultimately will have a positive impact on the bottom line. Thank you for such an enjoyable and insightful post!

Embrace it indeed! Thank you, Meghan.

Meaningful post Kevin. There is definitely a myth pattern that has developed through the years. Emotions play a key role in shaping behaviors in the workplace, social community, and personal life choices. Love holds the answers. Let's embrace it. This begins the mutual accountability is the future movement.

"Not balance, but integration"... love it!

Thanks, Jeff. I believe that the more people take ownership over their careers (and lives), they'll also demand more "love" in their integrated work/personal lives. No balance, integration.

How the world would be different if more people actually related with each other as people. Empathy, love, caring, concern, and many other positive emotions create solid teams, fantastic business relationships, and enhance employee motivation.

Whenever I read about highly effective organizational cultures, more often than not, I hear about people who felt valued, connected, respected, that people were listening and caring to them, and it felt like a second home away from home.

People are spending more time at work than with their families, and to have a business in which "love" and other emotions are possible will create untold benefits. Afterall, we are humans, and have feelings.

Bravo for writing on such a "risky" topic. We need it in these times...

I did, I did. Lisa, thank you for stopping by! You gotta have the guts to love to lead. Right on.

Glad you enjoyed the Love article I wrote for Forbes. Thanks for posting it.

I used to be really embarrassed talking about love at work, but once I started doing it, I found that almost every person I know has an example of a leader who had the guts to love.

Peace,

Lisa

Absolutely, Lisa. A little love goes a long way. Thank you for your comment.

I've been thinking about this very thing lately. You see, I recently started a new job and the thing that immediately impressed me was how nice everyone was. More than just a friendly hello or smile, people sent emails that were friendly, thoughtful, and caring. It was no less professional, but the feeling I had after each contact was really positive. Until then, my business emails were all business. Clean, cold, professional. But I realized it didn't have to be that way and I found myself working extra hard to infuse a little love into every email, every touch point. It's a commitment that isn't always easy to keep, but the positive outcomes I've seen make it worthwhile.

Thank you, Bryan. My memory was a little faulty on the juve work, but I would've driven that sled across town for him. You're description of his technique is dead on. Definitely a huge influence on us and many other young men and women.

Kevin,
I have been thinking of Coach Sutton a lot lately and always over the years. He was such a cool man, had that rhythmn to his walk, sort of a dipping nod with his head when he was into something he was teaching, when he was dropping into a three point stance or as with me, teaching outside linebacker balance, pushing off, arm under, arm over techniques.
But also, what always struck me as so significant about him was that he usually went to his position as night man at juvenile hall after our practices and that sometimes he couldn't make a practice or be at a game due to his juve responsibilities.
I am realizing these days, after spending time substitute teaching in Watsonville's continuation high school programs, that I have been as impressed with Coach Sutton's demeanor and professional choices as with anyone I've met along my professional/personal path of the past 25 years. And Love's got everything to do with it.