Love in business? Discover why leading with love belongs in business — and how courageous, people-centered leadership drives performance, loyalty, and long-term success. Learn how to lead with both strength and empathy as a proven factor in modern leadership principles.
Most leaders won’t say this out loud, but I will:
Love belongs in business. Not as a soft sentiment… but as a strategic advantage.
And before you picture “love” as group hugs, toxic niceness, or ignoring accountability — stop.
That’s not what we’re talking about.
We’re talking about the kind of grounded, courageous, wholehearted leadership that creates stronger teams, deeper loyalty, better performance, and healthier businesses. The kind of leadership that happens when you drop the unnecessary armor, let people see your humanity, and operate from a place of genuine care — not fear.
This is Moxie.
And it’s time more leaders embraced it.
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The Courage to Lead With Love
Here’s what most people don’t realize: Some of the most successful leaders — founders, executives, entrepreneurs — already lead with love.
They just don’t call it that. They call it:
- commitment
- loyalty
- integrity
- responsibility
- stewardship
- purpose
- service
But underneath every one of those words is a willingness to care.
To give a damn.
To be human.
This isn't the fluffier side of servant leadership; it's learning the skills to balancing toughness and empathy as a leader.
When I interviewed over 100 high-achieving leaders for my first book, I expected grit, discipline, strategy, and ambition. I did not expect the level of nurturing, kindness, and quiet love they infused into their leadership… and credited for their success.
It was one of the biggest surprises — and one of the most liberating truths.
If you're a leader with heart, you are not the exception. You're part of the new standard. Proving modern leadership principles.
What Love in Leadership Actually Looks Like
Could it be easier than you think to prove that caring leadership improves performance? Let’s ground this in real behaviors — because love in business is not abstract.
Love looks like:
You can be decisive, direct, ambitious, bold, and still lead with love.
In fact… those qualities are at their strongest when love is part of the equation.
Most leaders want to lead from a place of connection… but fear being judged for it.
Why Love is Still Considered “Dangerous” in Business
Let’s be honest:
Many leaders still armor up because they’re afraid of being seen as weak, sentimental, or “too much.”
And yet…
Trying to be hard all the time is exhausting.
Hiding your humanity crushes creativity and courage — especially your own.
Leading without warmth creates compliance, not commitment.
The irony?
Most leaders want to lead from a place of connection… but fear being judged for it.
The result:
Brilliant leaders dim their light, dilute their presence, or default to transactional interactions when what their teams actually need is clarity, strength… and heart.
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Why Strong Leaders Need This Most
If you’re anything like my clients, you’re not afraid of hard work. You’re not afraid of challenge. You’re not afraid of being the one responsible for big decisions, big ambitions, or big futures.
But leading with love?
That’s vulnerable.
That’s exposed.
That’s brave.
Strong leaders don’t avoid vulnerability — they use it wisely.
They’re courageous enough to lead with their whole self, not the sanitized, polished, corporate-safe version.
Love doesn’t make you soft.
It makes you powerful and unstoppable.
Leading with love doesn’t make you soft. It makes you powerful and unstoppable.
Now what?
Enhancing compassionate leadership is easier with a plan.
Even subtle shifts over time can yield massive results, but I recommend selecting at least one area for growth and implementing it immediately.
I've included several ideas and more fuel for the challenge below.
In addition, a Breakthrough Day will help you identify the highest-ROI options for moving forward, and carve out the time for priceless action.
Also worth consideration is how a Moxie Mastermind Peer Cohort will help you step into your moxie as an impactful leader creating your intentional legacy.
5 Practical Practices To Lead With Love Without Losing Your Edge:
1. Say the hard thing with humanity.
Clarity is kind. Avoidance is cruel.
Truth + compassion = leadership.
2. Make decisions aligned with your purpose.
When you know your north star, love becomes your compass.
Not sentiment — alignment.
3. Let your team see your confidence AND your care.
You don’t have to perform strength.
Real strength is already inside you.
4. Replace judgment with curiosity.
Great leaders assume positive intent — even when irritated, disappointed, or blindsided.
It prevents unnecessary damage.
5. Celebrate wins — loudly, unapologetically.
Your team needs to know what “good” looks like.
And YOU need to remember you’re doing better than you think
The ROI of Leading With Love In Business
Let’s talk business outcomes — because love is not fluff.
Leaders who operate with genuine care:
🔥 Make faster, cleaner decisions
Your values are your filter. Clarity increases. Noise decreases.
🔥 Build teams that stay longer and work harder
People don’t follow titles. They follow leaders who see them.
🔥 Reduce friction, drama, and avoidable conflict
Love creates psychological safety. Safety accelerates performance.
🔥 Attract better clients, partnerships, and opportunities
People sense resonance. Confidence + heart is magnetic.
🔥 Strengthen resilience during uncertainty
Fear paralyzes. Love mobilizes.
This is not theoretical. This is observable, strategic, and repeatable.
And yes — it takes moxie.
The Moxie Challenge: Bring More Love Into Your Leadership This Week
Pick one of these and practice it today:
Send a note of appreciation — specific, sincere, unexpected.
Tell someone the truth they need to hear, kindly.
Make a decision based on what feels right, not what feels safe.
Give yourself credit for something you’d normally dismiss.
Interrupt gossip — once.
Ask someone, “How can I support you better?” and really listen.
Small acts of courage create massive ripple effects.
Final Word: Love Is Not a Leadership Risk. It’s a Leadership Advantage.
If the old model of leadership was armor, posturing, and performance…
the new model is clarity, courage, and yes — love.
Not the soft kind.
Not the romantic kind.
Not the “be nice and avoid conflict” kind.
The grounded, responsible, powerful love that makes businesses stronger and leaders unforgettable.
If you want to leave a legacy of impact — not just revenue — love is part of the work.
And you, my friend, have the moxie for it.
In the spirit of love & moxie,
Want some guidance? Let's Talk.
For the skimmers, here's the bottom line...
What Does It Really Mean to Lead With Love?
Leading with love in business means making decisions with integrity, treating people with respect, holding high standards without shame, and caring about the impact of your leadership. It is not softness — it is a courageous, human-centered leadership approach that builds trust, performance, and long-term success.