Moshe’s Blog

Ask These Two Simple Questions to Start the Essential Leadership Conversation That Will Change Everything

Why These Two Questions Work So Well – and How They Change Everything

“It stops them in their tracks every time,” I was telling a colleague. “It helps them think about their work in a new way.” This is my response when asked about how I get executives to open their minds to the idea of love-powered leadership–what I call the Amare Way.

There are two questions that help many flip from a knee-jerk reaction of “hell no” to a heartfelt response like “that would be awesome!” The answers to the two questions are a powerful reflection of the leadership style, culture, and values of the organization.

If you were entrained, like most of us, to believe that love doesn’t belong in business and has no place in the boardroom or your leadership repertoire, think again. Maybe you love the Denver Nuggets or Trader Joe’s or Harley Hogs, or your school or gym or church – there’s sure to be some organization you say you love. That’s what you want your employees and customers and suppliers and community to feel about your business, correct?

This leads to the two simple questions that can change everything:

In your organization, do you love your customers?

Do your customers love you back?

Whether your responses are an inspired YES, a chagrined NO, or something in-between, it’s a starting point. No shame, please. Dig deeper by asking how you know the answers, and also what you do to show customers love (i.e. uplifting and connecting Amare energy). Once you accept what is, you can then move toward what could be. Check out this manifesto for inspiration.

4 Amare Steps to Change Everything With 2 Powerful Question

1. Start the hard conversation. Get your leadership team together and ask the two “change everything” questions. Set the stage for open, honest, and blame-free conversations, with no punishment for truth-telling. Then have the conversation. For help, read this short article on courageous conversations.

2. Avoid jumping to problem-solving. It’s tempting to immediately pivot into fixing things, taking actions to get customers to love you. To do it right, you need to make customer love an ongoing commitment, not a flavor of the month. Check out this book for a ton of resources.

3. Get into the heart of your organization. Rate your business on these 7 principles that guide love-powered organizations and leaders. For each one, e.g. Take the Long View, note three things: whether you believe in it, practice it, and reward it.

4. Know that you are mighty. Choose to believe that you can be a highly effective love-powered leader. Get yourself support – from books, colleagues, an executive coach, etc. And start by loving yourself. Here are 20 ways to do just that.

Use these two “change everything” questions to inspire might be the most important leadership conversation you will ever have. Then consider the answers and make a decision if that’s how you want things to be – or not.

Inspire and Influence Your Teams to Put the Power of Love to Work

Become the best leader you can possibly be. Consider the help of a top-notch leadership coach. Contact me for more info and plenty of free resources. The world needs you, needs us all, to step up into leading with the energy of love.