The office is not an easy place to work with love and compassion.

I know from my own experiences of working in the world of big business that the environment that you often find in corporate-land, large organisations such as the civil service, the armed forces or banking and energy companies is often toxic, challenging and competitive.

When the bottom line or following tightly defined rules and regulations is the number one concern of your employers, it’s not easy to bring in the ethos that you have chosen to follow in your own life.

But I believe there is a good case that shows there is not only room for love but that it can be a truly positive asset in business.

Firstly, let’s define love in its working sense. Bearing in mind it’s not just an emotion but an energy, the word “love” is used to refer to the highest frequency of energy in our universe. It is light and it is a state of being that is without criticism or judgment. It is an acceptance.

Here are some reasons why love is a good energy to use in all business negotiations, in all choices in the work place, in the terms of contracts for trading and services, and in the way we treat the people we work with, work for or serve (such as customers):

It’s fearless.
It cuts through illusion to the truth.
It clears prevarication and doubt.
It attracts integrity.
It gives us strength and the energy to keep going on the dark days.
It opens the door to opportunities and deals that work for us.
It keeps us calm and fights off anxiety.
It holds a space of tranquility when all around are losing their heads.
It’s our best friend in adversity.
It works with us rather than against us.
It opens the door to abundance and all we need.
It attracts the right employees and business partners.

Ken’s story

Some years ago my husband worked for a large organisation in the UK. When he took over responsibility for the company production, he decided to visit the most successful factory, one that had the best production records year after year.

When he arrived, he first interviewed the manager, Ken. He was surprised as he listened to Ken talk—he didn’t seem particularly on the ball; he didn’t seem smart nor clued in to the latest processes and techniques. In fact, he didn’t even seem to have any idea why his factory’s production topped the list in the UK.

Although Ken came across as a nice chap he didn’t impress or shine as a factory manager at all. So my husband decided to interview his management team to find the clues to their success. The team really impressed him. They were smart, obviously efficient, hardworking and answered all his questions with alacrity. But the penny fully dropped when he starting ask them about Ken—what did they think of him? What impressed them about him?

They told him how Ken would visit any employee and any family members who were ill, how he gave the children gifts at Christmas, how he would visit the wives of sick employees, how he knew the names of every single employee, and would sit and talk to them when they had problems.

Ken cared for his staff; more than that he loved his staff and they knew it.

So in gratitude for his kindness, his care and his love, every member of staff—from the factory floor to the management team—worked hard and diligently for Ken to make the factory a success.

The secret of Ken’s success—and therefore, of the entire factory—was love.

I am convinced there is room for love in business and it’s just up to us to have the courage to take it there.

 

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Apprentice Editor: Jamie Khoo/Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photo:  Giuliano Maiolini/Flickr Creative Commons