Imagine – Love and Leadership

As we enter another political season and are subjected to diverse opinions about leadership, imagine what it would be like if there could be agreement about essential elements of leadership… not just political leadership but organizational, volunteer and personal leadership too.

There’s probably only one thing that we could all agree on and that is the desire to love and to be loved.

I never thought about love and leadership as a combination for success until now. But let’s explore that possibility. Hhhmmm – Imagine what would the world be like if there was “love and leadership?”

We’ve heard of “love and marriage,” (go together like a horse and carriage…) and “management and leadership.” Somehow, I think that many traditional management and leadership practices may have gone the way of the horse and carriage because of the rapid changes and events since 2000.

Changes Since 2000

We started the new century with the dot com house-of-cards and Enron. Bottom line profits and quarterly earnings have been the name of the game. Innovate and create – which unfortunately has included accounting and auditing methods, which traditionally were the watchdogs for many companies that protected not only the company, but the shareholders, consumers and employees. The lack of integrity in leadership escalated resulting in the great recession of 2008 with industries collapsing and hundreds of thousands of jobs gone. Greed, ego and fear have replaced integrity in decision making for many organizations.

Love and Leadership

So imagine what would the world look like if there was “love and leadership.” Where love included caring for people and their wellbeing, caring for the environment, caring for communities.

John Lennon – Leadership Guru

It’s hard to imagine. But sometimes I look to disparate sources for answers. This time I looked to a signed picture of a pre-Beatles John Lennon, circa late 1950’s, that hangs over my desk. It’s a black and white photo, taken outside of what looks like a German pub. Lennon has a James Dean style of youthful arrogance in a leather jacket and jeans. Above the doorway in red neon it says “Rock N’ Roll.” My guess is that “rock and roll” was barely a cultural phenomenon when that photo was taken.

Personally, I think John Lennon was a master of love and leadership. Who else can you think of that revolutionized music, clothing and hairstyles, movies, art, and lifestyles and influenced politics and created millions of followers, world-wide in each of these endeavors before he was 40?

Imagine

In his song “Imagine,” written in 1971, he wrote:

I think this is love and leadership.

You may say I’m a dreamer, but Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and Mandela were dreamers too.

What Are You Dreaming About?

I ask you: What are YOU dreaming about? Is it about love that’s for the “brotherhood of man… sharing all the world?” Are you even willing to share a little piece of your world?

Are you dreaming about living a life in peace, including creating an environment of prosperity, collaboration and joy for those around you, with no need for greed and hunger through your personal and professional leadership?

You may say I’m a dreamer… but I’m not the only one.

Someday I hope you’ll join us… and the world will be at one.

Marty Stanley is an author, professional speaker and consultant on personal and organizational change. Are you a dreamer who imagines a workplace that is filled with collaboration, joy, profitability and prosperity? Marty can help you make that a reality. Call her today: 816-695-5453 martystanley@alteringoutcomes.com