Leadership has for too long been treated as a function and not as a
relationship. Zina Sutch and Patrick Malone argue that successful
leadership must be based on love (altruism and empathy) and laughter
(positive emotions and joy).
Science tells us that humans are deeply wired for empathy and compassion
and that our emotional selves help us make better decisions and motivate
others. However, the tactics we use to train leaders bear little
reflection of these advancements; we're still creating competent but
emotionally distant leaders who "manage human assets" and lead by
setting goals, deadlines, and deliverables.
Zina Sutch and Patrick Malone hope to flip a light switch and
illuminate, above all else, that leadership begins with heart and soul.
Too many training programs reduce leadership to an equation, matrix, or
acronym. But leadership is a relationship. It's one human helping
another. The most successful leaders show they genuinely care about
their employees and are, well, fun. It's just like any relationship.
In seven succinct chapters, the authors show that people lead best when
they tap into their genetically driven human nature to love and nurture,
connect and trust. Leading with love and laughter offers powerful
dividends: tighter teams, stronger performance, improved morale, greater
trust, more creativity, and even better health. While Sutch and Malone
cite the science and offer examples, tips, and practices, their larger
purpose is to reintroduce the warmth of human interaction and emotion as
the foundation of what leadership is all about.
