A Place to Begin

Learn the Basics of Love and Fear

Curious about the logic for shrinking fear and expanding love? Start here!

You have questions. Of course you do. You should. Staking it all on love is a serious contention. And it’s one I don’t make lightly.

What follows here are a series of short thought pieces, essays and blogs to share some of the basic foundational insights I’ve come to about love. This isn’t the be-all, end-all, but it is a good place to begin. Since 2015, I’ve reviewed research, conducted my own research, reflected and dialogued about love and fear with countless leaders and change makers around the world. Read on and consider:

  • How do you want to live into these principles as a team?

  • What hopes do you have? What concerns? What are your opportunities to strengthen your love-not-fear practices?

  • What kinds of love do you want to be sure to uphold in your working relationships? What fear-inducing actions will you avoid?

  • What words resonate for you? For your team?

  • Do you feel comfortable using the word “love” or might you choose other words that express love for your team like compassion or appreciation or belonging or responsibility?

Most importantly, what does it mean TO YOU to put love at the center of your work each day? How will YOU do that? Why is it important to you?

And I’d love to hear from you about your practices and your questions and struggles too. This work is real human work. As we lean into it, we learn together. Welcome to A Human Workplace and the effort to make work more human!

With love and conviction,

Renée Smith, Founder of A Human Workplace

These blogs lay a foundation.

  • We go to work each day to earn a living so we can make a life for ourselves and our loved ones. But we don’t sign up to be humiliated, to be ignored, to be betrayed. We sign up for the workforce at 18 or maybe 21 to contribute, to do something we enjoy, or at least don’t mind, to make a difference in some way. READ MORE

  • 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! READ MORE

  • 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. READ MORE

  • 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. READ MORE

  • 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. READ MORE

  • 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.  READ MORE

  • I’d never met Vito before, but he was the first to respond to a Linked In invitation to join a small group of men in the Bay Area as part of my research. Friendly but hesitant when he arrived, Vito was ‘California comfortable’ in a breezy cotton striped shirt, but slightly uncomfortable on some yet-to-be discerned level as we introduced ourselves, met the other two participants, and poured coffee. READ MORE

  • I invite you to slow down from the frantic pursuit of productivity and performance for ten minutes to read a portion of Donne’s writing. Don’t worry; it’s not too long. But as with any masterpiece, his words will linger and return with questions and illumination later if we  take a little time to consider them. READ MORE

  • No one wakes up in the morning, bounces out of bed, and eagerly declares, “I can’t wait to be ignored today! I hope my work doesn’t matter to anyone. I’m going in early because I’m not making a difference. Since no one cares about my work I am going after solving that really tough problem.” READ MORE

  • Work in social services, and especially work in direct services to the most vulnerable people in society, is by its very nature a human endeavor. People often choose this field because they are compassionate and motivated to care for others. But social services can be some of the most physically and emotionally demanding work there is. READ MORE

  • Hayley started work as an administrative assistant for Dean right out of college. She’d been working for a few weeks in Washington State government and things were going well. She liked the people and the work came easily. She felt happy and confident. READ MORE