Katie Frey – President & COO There are many different types of love and countless books written about love and love languages. In the context of work, how can we focus more on the love of friends and equals, often referred to as philia? The outcome of this type of love makes us more resilient during hard times, which plays such a crucial role in the workplace.
Love deepens our connection to each other and transcends our work, because after all, it’s the transactional nature of work that can drain us. The manifestation of philia shows up at work when we assume positive intent, treat people with genuine care and kindness, and act in a way that honors the human experience. These acts are the reason you remember the way someone made you feel even if you cannot remember what they said or did.
Well, everything, because love in the workplace is a positive force that brings people together and helps create a more connected and collaborative work environment. If we lead with empathy and compassion toward others in the workplace, it is a powerful way of expressing love. One way to do this is through human-centered design.
Not to be confused with user-centered design, human-centered design (as used in ISO standards) is an approach to problem-solving that puts people (and their needs, emotions, and perspectives) at the center. This means involving stakeholders in every step of the design process.
Harvard Business Review study found that, “Employees who felt they worked in a loving, caring culture reported higher levels of satisfaction and teamwork. They showed up to work more often.”
When we design organizations with people at the center, we can limit the transactional nature of our work. That mindset starts with love. We may not describe it as love; however, we’re still putting another person first. Ensuring love is active in the workplace starts with acknowledging that relationships are more meaningful when one cares about people and their well-being, not just the organization and outcomes. After all, an organization is merely a summation of the people who belong.
Approach every interaction with a colleague or team member as an opportunity to positively impact them.
If you believe that love is a “nice to have” in your work, take a moment to reflect on the last time you felt most valued, seen, and recognized. That moment mattered for you. Could you describe it as love? Would you want someone else to feel the same?
Humans are social beings who crave connection. As the world changes, so should the places where we spend most of our time, including the office. The most successful workplaces, especially those in the business services space, foster connection among employees. An organization’s culture is often cited as a key reason that an individual joins or leaves an organization. How you intentionally foster love, as a core component of your culture, may be a differentiator worth further exploration.
Love is what unifies people. Consider how you may bring more love into your workplace, not just at the holidays, but throughout the entire year.