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Is it really possible to create a way of working based on love not fear? Yes. It’s not only possible. It’s essential. Learn more from this collection of more than 100 posts to inspire and guide you.
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Help Stop the Harm
Workplace traumas are dehumanizing and can be all-consuming. The suffering caused by abusive, fearful workplaces is enormous. We must rise up and decide enough is enough. We must stop the harm. It’s time to set a new standard, to expect something more of ourselves, for ourselves and for each other. Instead, it is time to expect and create workplaces characterized by love. We must make trust, respect, empathy, compassion, and belonging the standard. We don’t have any time to lose.
Everywhere I go: in a workshop in Barcelona.
Amor.” This word surprised the group of 30 people from the Lean construction community gathered for a workshop at the Catalonia Institute for Construction Technology (iTeC) in Barcelona where I was on holiday. “Amor.” A ripple of smiles and happy murmurs moved through the room when I said the answer to fear at work is love.
Start your week with love
After I began to research, write, and speak about love at work, I happily found many others talking about love too. Sometimes the love they talk about takes the form of empathy or safety or respect. But these are all expressions of love, one of two primary human emotions.
Being human-centered
When you put humans at the center good things happen. Team members are more loyal, committed, and creative. They are glad to be at work, and they do better work. And customers, Washingtonians, are treated with respect. They receive better value, better services, and a better state to live in.
What about accountability?
Whenever I talk with people about the need to eliminate fear and indifference and increase love and safety in the workplace someone inevitably brings up the question of accountability. And when they do, others nod their heads in agreement and concern.
Harmful fear: eliminate it this year!
Workplace fear is an all too common experience. Talk to almost anyone willing to be candid and they can tell you about a time, either past or present, of harmful fear at work. Those with fears in the past may still experience a kind of post traumatic stress disorder over it.
When I say the "L" word
When people ask what I do, I tell them it’s my job to talk about the “L” word at work, to foster cultures that are comfortable with The “L” Word. My work is especially to bring The “L” Word to public service and to help government organizations craft cultures with The “L” Word at their core.
Can't a little fear be a good thing?
When I asked people in my research interviews to share an experience of fear at work, some shared this kind of "helpful" fear situation. They consistently described the discomfort of stepping to their edge, experiencing a low-grade fear, and working through the challenge to accomplish something.
Covering the basics: what is fear and why is fear important?
I’m not a neurologist nor a psychologist; rather, I’m trained as a social scientist. So when it comes to those fields, when I say basic, I mean basic. But over time we will hear from experts who can help deepen our insights. You may have expertise to share too. I look forward to that!
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