Comments on: Using the “L” Word in Business

By: ” Reflection on the Importance of Praise and Appreciation " on Positive Psychology News Daily

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:17:27 +0000

[…] in my article on engagement that recognizing employees’ contribution fosters their engagement. Margaret Greenberg’s last article perhaps has an even better illustration of how when we “… love my employees, […]

By: Timothy So

Timothy So — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:18:33 +0000

Thank you for your incredible article Margaret! I enjoyed reading it so much.

I must say if everyone in workplace is like you and ‘love most of the clients and colleagues’, a magnificent working environment would be created effortlessly!

Best, T

By: Sheila Feeman

Sheila Feeman — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 22:56:23 +0000

Identify, reflect, act…how simple and how impactful! Those three powerful words can be used in most any situation. It reminds me of a quote I heard recently, “every spectacular achievement is preceeded by unspectacular preparation.” This exercise is simple AND spectacular. Interesting observations; as you’ve so beautifully articulated, there are so many ways to utilize and experience the “L” word…nice job!

Love You,
Sheila

By: Jeff Dustin

Jeff Dustin — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:30:03 +0000

Kat,

Yes, I have no doubt that love is a key to leading well. I just wish that practice would catch up with theory…isn’t that true everywhere?

By: Kathryn Britton

Kathryn Britton — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:03:29 +0000

Jeff,

Here’s the exact paragraph from the Peterson and Park paper:

“* We also have some hints that strengths of humanity contribute in particular to satisfaction with work that explicitly involves other people, like teaching or sales. Along these lines, in our study of cadets, we are learning that the strength of love predicts accomplishments as a leader. And in a study of teachers, we found that their social and emotional intelligence was associated with performance gains over the academic year on the part of their students.” p. 1151.

So maybe you weren’t privileged to have leaders with the kind of accomplishments they were studying …

Kathryn

By: Jeff Dustin

Jeff Dustin — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:48:50 +0000

I finished 5 long years in the Navy and I don’t recall the Love flowing down the chain of command. Maybe I was on the wrong boat?

By: Kathryn Britton

Kathryn Britton — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:44:24 +0000

Ah Margaret,

Now I know why you selected the 14th of the month for your day to contribute to PPND.

It’s so that you can write about love on Valentine’s Day every year!

Here’s an interesting contrast that you allude to in your article.

Martin Seligman told us in a MAPP class that the Navy rank-ordered character strengths - officers & seamen - in terms of importance to the Navy. Capacity to Love and be Loved was 21 in their ranking. (I only have class notes about this, so I don’t know how it was done.)

Capacity to love and be loved has been found to be the strongest predictor of leadership at West Point.

Seligman also told us the Navy selected the top 16 out of the 24 character strengths to use with character education. So Capacity to Love and Be Love wasn’t included in the net.

That was an informal class communication, so it may or may not still be true. But I found it a very interesting contrast.

And, like you, Capacity to Love and be Loved comes out on top of my character strength list.

Kathryn

By: Margaret Greenberg

Margaret Greenberg — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:02:51 +0000

David/Charlene - thank you both for sharing your support of using the “L” word - in work, in relationships, in life. Ben Franklin said “The noblest question in the world is: What good may I do in it?” You both are having a positive impact - on your children, employees, and clients.

By: Charlene Glidden

Charlene Glidden — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:15:01 +0000

I too have this strength as one of my signature strengths and find the impact it can have for an employee to truly feel - I care about their well being and their lives. They sense this and it drives loyalty to our company. As Gallup’s poll shows - employees leave managers, not companies. We all have a chance to make a meaningful impact on our employees lives and in turn our own. Thanks Margaret - I’ve personally experienced the L word working with you and I can honestly say it’s changed my life!

By: David Zinger

David Zinger — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:34:02 +0000

Margaret,

I appreciated you focus on the strength of to loved and be loved. That is my oldest sons #1 signature strength and I coach him to let it be expressed in who he is and what he does.

What the “L”? Keep loving what you do and that makes such a big difference in engagement and work, for you and those around you.

My number 1 strength is humor and playfulness yet I now that often the humor I voice and share with others is just a playful way of expressing love.

Happy Valentine’s Day.