I recently read Love Works: Seven Timeless Principles for Effective Leaders by Joel Manby (2020).
In this book Manby frames his experiences as a chief executive officer of several large organizations against the pillars of love as articulated in 1 Corinthians 13 of the Bible.
My top takeaways:
- Think first and always of LOVE as a action verb – not as a noun or an emotion.
- Reframe personal and organizational goals as either BEgoals or DO goals – with the BE goals being preeminent.
- BEgoals are timeless; DO goals are context dependent and malleable.
- Protecting the dignity of others should be paramount.
- Praise lacking specifics is perceived as bogus and hollow, killing our credibility.
- Making others consistently feel bad does NOT make them better.
- Customer experience is the direct downstream effect of employee enthusiasm – starting with leadership.
- Effective and Efficient are goals that can work against one another, or they complement each other in symbiotic conjunction, depending on the culture we choose to shape.
- The gift of time – the leader’s time – is a powerful incentivizer.
- Insisting on getting at the truth keeps the best people and creates the best decisions.
- Forgiving heals both the giver and the recipient.
- The seven timeless principles of LOVE that can be leveraged in leadership: PATIENCE, KINDNESS, TRUSTING, UNSELFISH, TRUTHFUL, FORGIVING, and DEDICATED.
My favorite quotes:
“Profits are a product of doing the right thing—over and over again.” (p. 31)
“Do or do not. There is no try. —YODA In Star Wars.” (p. 35)
“The truth is this: interrupting is a sign of distrust.” (p. 83)
“Listening well is critical because it demonstrates trust and builds a team’s sense of camaraderie and cohesion.” (p. 84)
“Let others make the decisions for which they are responsible.” (p. 95)
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. —MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ” (p. 196)
“And the more we focus on do goals, the greater the risk that we will betray our be goals.” (p. 215)
Manby makes a compelling case that effective leaders – the best leaders – not only can lead from a standpoint of LOVE, they should do so.
This book is a worthy read.
*If you’d like to read more of nc’s blatherings, go to www.nelsonwcoulter.com
Nelson Coulter
Nelson Coulter has held a lot of titles: rancher, educator, author, musician, entrepreneur, coach, mentor, consultant, and professor. He has coached, taught, and been published in many settings. He has served in public schools of all shapes, sizes, and contexts. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at Louisiana State University - Shreveport. His most cherished titles, however, are the ones not attached to career identity: son, husband, dad, and granddad.
