What’s your usual email sign off when sending a work email to a team member?   

Kind regards 

Cheers 

Thanks 

Best regards 

Best, 

Love xo…  

I have not done a poll on this one, but I am guessing that a very small percentage if any would sign off with Love xo… 

Love at work… there’s usually some policies on that… 

But what if we did show our love for one another at work. 

The kind of love that demonstrates care, commitment, kindness, connection and empathy.   

Some of us show our love in coffees, and decorated desks on birthdays, celebrations marking beginnings, endings, and life celebrations however we may not think of it as love.  We play it safe describing it as kindness, caring, teamwork and engagement.  And at its essence, we could easily categorise these actions as demonstrations of love. 

In leadership, the dynamics of love often remain unexplored, as it conjures up all sorts of thoughts that we often don’t associate with the workplace yet love in leadership is underestimated. Leaders who love, understand that this kind of love encompasses loyalty, commitment, connection, passion, growth, teamwork, safety and trust. You are unlikely to find any of that in your “love at work” policy.   

We separate love and work too often.  However, by defining what love looks like at work, we can see that it is more apparent that what we may realise.  

So, as you maybe hearing Tina Turner as you read this, here is the answer to “What’s love got to do, got to do with it (leadership)?”  

Loyalty, not merely in terms of allegiance but also in unwavering support, forms the cornerstone of love and leadership.   Leaders who inspire loyalty foster an environment where individuals feel valued and respected, nurturing a sense of belonging and purpose. 

Commitment embodies dedication and perseverance. Commit to your vision and inspire others to invest their energy and efforts in this vision, creating a collective drive towards shared goals. 

Connecting with your team regularly through quality moments increases empathy, understanding, and a shared sense of purpose, laying the groundwork for collaboration and innovation. 

Love what you do, and be passionate about it.  Passion promotes inspiration, infusing enthusiasm and energy into our work. If you don’t love what you do, or love the product or service you or your business offers, find something you do love and do that.  

Choose to lead.  Lead deliberately, on purpose and with intention.  And if you prefer not to lead, don’t.  It’s okay to not lead. 

Growth is evident in love.  We evolve as we grow.  Prioritise learning and development, creating an environment where it is safe to learn and encourage individuals to stretch beyond their comfort zones to realize their full potential. 

Create the best team.  Teamwork transforms individuals into a cohesive unit, where collective strengths outweigh individual limitations. Promote diversity of thought and push through differences, because that is what makes the best and strongest team.   

Set the bar for a safe team high in trust.  Make it safe to take risks and be vulnerable. Leaders who prioritise safety and trust promote innovation and as a result creativity flourishes. 

Love has everything to do with it.  A focused and deliberate team loves hard.  It’s what makes the work worth it. 

All my love xo 

Here’s how we can work together:

💬 One-on-one coaching

👩‍🏫 Facilitation of your next leadership team activity

🎯 Leadership development and training

🎤 Book me as a Speaker or MC for your next event

Rita Cincotta writes, mentors, and speaks about deliberate leadership. She works with organisations to develop better leaders that support people and businesses to thrive. You can download Rita’s new whitepaper, Deliberate Leadership here.