Cambodia, Thailand, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Scotland, England, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, France, Switzerland, the United States and Canada: there is a common trait amongst all these people groups.  I would venture to say there is a common trait amongst all humanity.

In all the countries I’ve had the privilege of traveling I’ve noticed a desire we all share.  With all the people I’ve met and worked with in a diverse set of cultures, nationalities, races, languages and religions there is something I noticed we all had in common.  We shared a longing deep within the core of who we are…

Everyone wants to be loved.

You may be reading this and thinking, “Tell me something I didn’t know.”

Maybe, maybe not.  But do you see how this applies to leadership?  Every human being you lead, every human being you sell to, every human being you buy from has a deep-seated desire to be loved.  At the deepest part of them, perhaps in that very part that makes us all human, they want to be loved.

Let’s look at your customers for a moment: Do you want your customers to rave about your product or service?  Of course you do.  Do you want your customers to love what you sell so much that they wouldn’t consider going anywhere else for what you have to offer?  Absolutely.  Do you want to hear your customers effusively declare how much they love your company?  I know you do.  Will that kind of customer be good for your business?  Yes.

So how do you get your customers to love you that much?

Love them that much.

Years ago I was leading my company through a visioning process.  We were defining our mission, vision and values.   The more I thought about it I began to believe that our “Why?” needed to be,

“To love.”  Period.

However, we didn’t end up going that direction.  Perhaps I didn’t have the courage to go with it, maybe it didn’t really fit – I can’t remember now.  But I recently heard something that brought these forgotten thoughts to the forefront.

A client of mine just concluded a visioning process.  Do want to know what their new mission statement is?

“Share the love.”

They have concluded that the key to their success is to “share the love” to their external, and their internal audience.  They need to share the love with their customers.  They need to share the love with each other.  They need to share the love with their vendors.

They have realized that everyone wants to be loved, so they’re going to bring it.

They are asking themselves, “How do we share the love with our customers?”  Well, it’s going to be a little different for everyone, but you can bet there are going to be some commonalities.  Treat them with respect.  Show them gratitude.  Be passionate about what they are passionate about.  Don’t waste their time or money.  Empathize with their concerns.  Feel their pain.

Never take them for granted.  Let them know how much they mean to you.  Give them your time and attention.  Try to offer that little extra.  You have to tell them and you have to show them.  Ask them what is important to them and do it.

Simple, but not easy.

My client wants to create a corporate culture of sharing the love.  In every interaction with fellow team members they’re looking for how they can share the love.  Those of you with children know that sometimes you need to show tough love.  Love isn’t about being nice, it’s about caring enough to help people do and be better.

It’s also about kindness, patience, affirmation, recognition, gratitude, not boasting or being envious, humility, selflessness, not being easily angered, forgiving and being gracious, trust, respect, and perseverance.  It’s knowing that you can count on each other to work together in a mutually beneficial relationship.

You may be thinking this is a little touchy feely for you, but I’ll tell you this, any organization that learns how to wholehearted share the love with each other and with their customers will outperform one that doesn’t.  Guaranteed.

So how can you “share the love” in your organization?