Great leaders realize that it is never about them. Instead it is about those they lead, those they serve and those they love.


Do you want to increase the love you have for those you lead? Here are four tips. But it is important to preface these tips by saying that you should never fake caring. Either you really care about those you lead, or you don’t. If you don’t feel it, don’t fake it!

One sure way to erode trust as a leader is to fake your love and concern for those you lead. People can feel when someone is genuine and someone is not.

1.       Selflessly Serve. There is a direct positive correlation between serving others and love. I have found that the more you serve someone, the greater your love for that person increases. The greater your love, the more desire you have to serve.

There are many opportunities to serve. It can be as simple as sending a card with a nice note, or taking dinner over to the family of an employee experiencing a difficult challenge. Think of the good feelings this would create for the employee, the family and you!

2. Use Empathy. Using empathy means you are able to put yourself in the shoes of another. It requires you to see others as people with needs just like you.

I knew a colleague once who had an employee with a very sick father who lived clear across the country. She couldn’t afford the fare for an airline ticket to go see him. This very thoughtful and generous leader bought her a ticket out of his own pocket. And he did it anonymously.

He truly saw those he led as people like him. He saw a need, and did something to help.

3.       Look for the Positive. Be a positive leader! Everyone has some good in them. The more positive you think and speak of others, the more you will care. It is easy to see the negative, but it can also be very easy to see the positive if you look.

It is difficult to care if all you see is the negative. Some of you will say. “While that’s fine, I need to address the negative, right?” The answer is yes, of course. But look for the positive first, and then address the negative, but only because you care about the person not because you are angry.

Make it a point to always search for the good in others.

4.       Express. Expressing doesn’t mean you have to say “I love you.” But telling those you lead that you really care about them and appreciate them is important. If you genuinely feel this when you say it, your love and care for them will increase.

Mike Rogers is a consultant, trainer and blogger. You can find more on him at the following:

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