“I love my job.”
“I just love this project.”
“OMG, I love love love that design!”
Nope, that’s not what we really mean, although – yay! – if that’s what you’re hearing from your team.
How can you leverage the nine chemicals that makeup “LOVE” in ways that drive richer employee engagement and deeper client connections? The chemicals are dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, vasopressin, phenethylamine, norepinephrine, endorphins (you knew that one), testosterone and adrenaline. In combination, these chemicals drive lust, attraction and attachment.
Your team
What is the centerpiece of a high-performing team? Trust. Empathy. Shared respect. Let’s add collaboration, kudos and appreciation for a job well done, and investment in your employees’ learning and development. A work environment with this rich support produces sensations of joy and exhilaration, which, over time, often lead to feelings of love. Yes, love. Employees who experience this at work have more confidence, are superior contributors and are more likely to want to grow as a member of the firm.
Employers who foster this culture of love are rewarded with increased productivity, consistency and retention of the best people on their squad.
Your clients
Years ago, I worked with a lawyer who said, “Clients hire me because I’m the smartest litigator they know.” The fact was, while he was smart and a trial lawyer with a fine track record, he wasn’t hired very often. He was pretty unlikable. Buyers had plenty of other purchasing options.
This senior partner lacked empathy and understanding of what the people with serious problems needed from him. He was unable and unwilling to develop authentic, loyal and loving connections with others. Afraid of being vulnerable or demonstrating compassion, he wouldn’t listen.
The best lawyer-client relationships often evolve into life-long friendships. They freely express their mutual affection and love in and out of the office, boardroom or courtroom. They add richness to the fabric of everyone’s lives and to the firm.
Find the love @ work
Love in business is not a romantic notion. The first mention of “LOVE” isn’t a signal to your HR director that you’ve gone off the rails as a risk. It’s about fostering human connections in a highly difficult and complex world. Whether virtual, hybrid or fully in the office, prioritize empathy, trust and compassion, and see if the rewards aren’t more fun and joyous for everyone.
Happy Valentine’s Day!