Can There be Love in Business?

Reading that question, it probably might sound stupid or even impossible. Can there be love in business?

But, let me ask you this?  Do you love what you do?

According to results from a 2017 Gallup Poll, only 15 per cent of employees are engaged at work. Gallup noted, “… many people in the world hate their job and especially their boss.”

So, as a starting point, there are only a few people that like what they do. I assume that just a sliver of people actually love what they do. These are the lucky few where their work is also fun. That does not mean it is not a pain in the behind many times.  And, it does not mean that there are not daily irritations.

Read: 4 Things To Do When You Don’t Love Your Job Anymore

But some people find love in their work. (And I am not talking about romance, which is for a different post at a different time). Some simply love winning in business. They love winning the deal, winning the client. Winning the war for marketing. Winning to get the best people. Some people just love winning money. While winning is a reward, it is not love of the art of doing it, it is love of the result. (And, trust me, without results and winning, no one will love what they do).

But can love in business evolve beyond a person loving his or her profession, or a person winning in the competition whether it is money, market share or more?

I think so. There is the win of the collaboration of people working together where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. It is when 1+1=3.

Together you are more.

I have been incredibly lucky to find that in my life. I have worked side-by-side and coast-to-coast with Susan Thomas who is my business colleague, friend, confidant and work soul mate for more than 20 years.

We have worked together seamlessly on projects and always have since the day we met. We argue.  I drive her crazy. She makes me nuts with her attention to detail when I am impatient. I frustrate her when she wants me to pay attention and I am distracted.

Nevertheless, she talks and sparks ideas I would have never had on my own. She takes my writing and makes it better with sharp precision. I take hers and give it zing and an edge. I give her ideas that she maps into crystal clear plans for companies. She and I know that we would often not have the idea without me.

Watch this: Be A Leader: You Need Power And Love To Lead In Charisma

And we would not have ideas, give what we give to each other; to the people who work with us; the people we work for – without each other.

For anyone reading this, I hope you find this even for a fleeting moment in your life. Where another person makes you love your work more – and makes you better. Really better.

It is the opposite of the person who zaps the energy and creativity from the room, to one who opens the possibilities of what can be.

While we don’t achieve nirvana each time we work together, we have nirvana in the luck of the draw of life. We met. And since then, I have loved work more. And I know she has, too.

Read also: Why We Need To Bring Back Love Into The Office

I have been incredibly lucky. And, at this point in my work life, I get the most pleasure of paying it forward. I work every day to bring joy and love to the work I do – and I have found that it can be contagious.

These days, I work with many people who are younger and smarter than me. I bring what I can to them every day. In turn, they give me so much and make me better.

Is it love? Yes. Love of work and collaboration. There are men and women I truly love working with and love them as my colleagues.

Rob Wyse is a senior consultant who is an expert in brand storytelling. For thirty years, he has guided senior leaders in creating compelling story arcs that connect brands to customers. At the heart of his storytelling has been management of issues/policy to drive market opportunity. Issues include AI, climate change, the future of work, diversity, and healthcare. To engage with him, email editor@leaderonomics.com