I remember a moment from my early years as a professional that changed the way I think about work. I walked into a meeting completely drained, deadlines looming, stress mounting, and everything around me felt heavy. Before we started, a colleague paused, looked at me, and said, “Are you okay?”
It wasn’t the usual “How are you?” in passing. She actually stopped, leaned in, and waited for my response. I brushed it off, mumbling something about being fine, but she didn’t move on. She asked again, softly, “No, really. Are you okay?”
In that moment, I felt something I hadn’t realized was missing: care. Pure, unfiltered care that wasn’t tied to my productivity or my role. It was about me. And it made all the difference.
Recently, I listened to Jennifer Garvey Berger’s podcast about love as a business imperative, and it brought back that memory with a new lens. We’re so hesitant to use the word “love” at work. We call it “empathy,” “connection,” or “emotional intelligence” but love? That feels too personal, too vulnerable. And yet, it’s what we all crave.
When love is missing from workplaces, there are chances that these things might feel commonplace alienation, burnout, disengagement, all results of approaching work where an employee is not considered a fellow human aiming for the same pursuit.
I am sure the word ‘love’, at workplace can come as shocker to many. However, love, as Jennifer explains, isn’t about being overly sentimental or soft. It’s about unconditional benevolence: caring for someone’s well-being simply because they’re human.
It’s in the small moments:
Accepting the parts of someone that aren’t polished or perfect.
Listening not just to what’s being said, but to the story and values underneath the frustration.
Pausing long enough to ask, “Are you okay?” and meaning it. Pausing long enough to really get to know your fellow colleague.
Every organisation starts with love. “Someone loved an idea, a solution, or a vision enough to pour their energy into it”. But as teams grow and pressures mount, we forget the very thing that started it all.
What if we reclaimed it? What if workplaces became spaces where people felt safe enough to share their stories, to bring their whole selves, and to care for one another beyond roles and titles? What if we carved out just a few minutes each day to set aside distractions and truly connect?
Tough to practice but mostly worth the effort, in her work with leaders, Jennifer implores- when someone is really mad, and frustrated with a fellow team member, there is evident friction and opposing views, “listen for what’s underneath.” That anger, that frustration, is almost always rooted in something deeper a value, a fear, a hope. When we take the time to listen, people soften. The air changes. And in that space, trust and creativity flourish.
Love isn’t just a personal practice; it’s a business imperative. It’s what makes people want to show up, not just physically, but emotionally. It’s what keeps teams resilient and organisations alive.
If this resonates with you, I can’t recommend Jennifer’s podcast enough. It’s a beautiful, thought-provoking exploration of why love belongs in the workplace and why it’s time we stop being afraid of it.
https://bit.ly/Loveisabusinessimperative
So, here’s my question for you: What would your workplace look like if love wasn’t at arm’s length? If it was something we all practised, every day?
