Loving Actions That Uplift

Uplift!

Who doesn't like to experience the energy that uplifts? I sure do! 

We all need wind in our wings to elevate us from our doubts and struggles! A little uplift at just the right moment can make all the difference in our perseverance and direction. 

Sometimes this uplift feels good and other times it's tough love. But both are important and loving. 

Such uplift seems very personal and often it is. As a leader, we might say or do any number of things that are uplifting to a team member. 

Some individual loving actions that uplift might include:

• pausing to listen,

• making time and space for celebrating,

• asking for input,

• noticing a contribution and amplifying it,

• voicing appreciation,

• setting boundaries or challenging,

• providing clarity about expectations,

• showing the way through change, or

• investing in someone's learning.

But leaders are also responsible for creating uplift in ways that might be considered formal and mundane but are just as impactful as our interpersonal relationships. 

I'm referring to the purpose, policies, processes, planning, management systems, communication, and culture of the organization. These are not just bureaucracy or overhead. These frame up and provide the critical context for our workplace experiences. So as Loving Leaders, we need to embed love in these as well. 

What might that look like? Examples of loving organizational components that uplift could include:

• structuring the planning process for everyone to have the opportunity to contribute; or

• ensuring holiday and leave policies support all religious practices and the needs of all kinds of households; or

• building skills so that workers can improve their work; or

• sharing information transparently and timely while also providing multiple channels for team feedback and ideas; or

• creating routines for rest and recovery as a norm integrated into the project plan.

Remember this: If you are a Loving Leader who personally uplifts your team members but your organization's components are oppressive and dehumanizing, your team members will experience dissonance. Essentially, your loving actions will be at odds with the organizational context. 

So you can't just work on you; you need to work on your organization so that it is uplifting too!