Spiritual Foundations of Leadershipਨਮੂਨਾ

Love: The Essence of Leadership

Dr. Bruce Winston brings agapao love into the context of leadership, referring to it as the essential and practical manifestation of appreciation for any situation of need around us. Showing deliberate appreciation for people is an essential value in leadership. In his book Be a Leader for God's Sake, Winston says that leadership begins with the meta-value of love (agapao), which forms a foundation for the rest of the values. That foundation, based on "Agapao" (one of the Greek words for love), ignites interest in a real and morally relevant leadership, and for a redefinition of the interaction between the leader and his followers.

Far from a cheesy connotation, this "Agapao" leadership refers to "doing the right thing, at the right time, and for the right reason." It is the basic expression of relational affection; it is the essential thing that common sense itself could require from every leader; it is that minimum debt of appreciation that we owe each other as human beings. This approach captures the sense and relevance of a genuine appreciation applied to everyday interactions in the professional and business world. It redefines the relational approach in the face of endless opportunities to elevate the sense of worth and develop the sense of belonging in a volatile and needy work environment. Agapao, in a way, represents the least that a person can do for another person, with the idea of turning hopeless situations into potentially transformative ones.

Reflection:

• Are you showing daily genuine appreciation to those around you?
• How can you ensure that agapao love remains the foundation of your leadership approach?