Article written by Cheryl Muller (Business & Executive Coach – ActionCOACH)
With the 14th of February traditionally being Valentine’s day, it made sense for my focus to be love and how that pertains to business. But what is love in a business context? After giving it some thought, I realized that love and business are not such a strange combination but it’s a reality for many successful business owners. Let’s explore why:
- The relationships we have with our customers, colleagues, and partners can have a significant impact on the success of our business.
- When we love what we do, it can be infectious. When we are passionate about our work, it’s easier to be inspired and motivated. We can take ownership of our tasks, be more creative and innovative, and take risks to move our business forward.
- Love in a business context also encourages collaboration and communication. When we are passionate about our work and the people around us, we’re more likely to be open to ideas, listen to others, and work together to come up with the best solutions. This kind of collaboration can help to create a strong and healthy work environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
- At the same time, it is important to remember that love in a business context is not a one-way street. It’s important to show our customers, colleagues, and partners that we care about them and their needs. This means taking time to get to know them and their businesses, and really listening to their ideas, challenges, and feedback. It’s all about them if we want to develop trust.
- Love in a business context can also be a great source of motivation. When we feel appreciated and respected for our hard work, it’s easier to stay focused on our goals and perform at our best.
- Ultimately, love in a business context helps to create a strong and lasting relationship between business owners and their customers, colleagues, and partners. It allows us to create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected, and it helps to create an atmosphere of collaboration and innovation.
Something I learned many years ago from a very wise and learned friend, Rev Milton Martin, you don’t have to like everyone, but you must learn to love everyone. So, don’t be afraid to show some love in a “business way” – it could be the key to success!
Tools to rebuild love within teams
Lately I have been helping business owners to recreate strong and lasting relationships within teams which seems to have been negatively impacted by lockdown and working from home the past 2 years. I use a very simple online assessment which takes 10 – 15 minutes to complete. The individual receives a full report helping them to understand their own behavioural preferences, how they can use their strengths to have a greater impact on the business, and how to better connect with their colleagues, suppliers and customers. I follow this up with a half-day or full-day team-building session where I help the team to understand one another better, how best to communicate with each colleague based on their preferences, and how to use each team members strengths. It’s all about better connections – we know how frustrating a poor phone connection can be, and it is the same in teams when we are unable to connect with one another.
ActionCOACH is a proud Partner of the NSBC