The Essential Ingredient for Success
Hear more from Lisa Nichols by attending the 4th Annual Boldly Conference on October 18, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
I joined a call with several faith-filled CEOs this morning. One of the gentlemen on the call asked for prayer for his daughter, who works in marketing for a notable brand. He shared that the work environment is somewhat toxic, taking a toll on her mental health. I teared up at the thought of this young woman, early in her career, already facing such negativity in the workplace.
Last week, I met with an executive sales leader from a large, global company. Visibly deflated, she recounted an event from the day before. Despite having just closed the largest sale of the year, her boss focused on all she could have done better instead of celebrating the win. She cried as she told me the story. It made me wonder: Is it ever enough? It also begged the question: What is it like to be on the other side of me?
As faith-filled women in the workplace, we have the opportunity to be "Jesus with skin on" to those in our sphere of influence every day. How did Jesus relate to others? While there were occasions when He displayed righteous anger, such as flipping tables in the marketplace, His essence was all about love and service to others. Although we don't frequently use the word 'love' in business contexts, I believe it is one of the most powerful keys to building strong relationships and having a lasting impact on the lives of others.
In the Gospel of Matthew, a teacher of the law asked Jesus which commandment was the most important. Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second is this, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Matthew 22:37-38). If these are the most important commandments, shouldn’t we focus on them more? What are some ways we can love others well in the workplace?
We recently released the 300th episode of our podcast, “Something Extra.” In the podcast, I interview leaders from all walks of life about their leadership journeys, the lessons they have learned, the struggles they have overcome, and the “something extra” they believe all leaders need. I have heard countless guests emphasize compassion, care, concern, and empathy for their people. Loving people is the “something extra” that every leader needs.
Leadership is not just about achieving goals or hitting targets; it's about making a positive impact on the lives of those we work with. Amid our professional pursuits, let's remember to infuse our work with love and compassion by creating environments where people feel valued, supported, and cherished. Love, after all, is the true essence of leadership as modeled to us by Jesus.
Lisa Nichols is the CEO and co-founder of Technology Partners (TPI), a Women-Business Enterprise and provider of premier IT staffing, solutions, and IT leadership development. Named among the Most Influential Business Women (by St. Louis Business Journal), Lisa’s influence has been recognized by her peers and greater St. Louis community.
Lisa and her husband, Greg, founded Technology Partners in 1994 driven by their passion to revolutionize the staffing industry with their transparent business model. They co-lead the business today. Greg and Lisa have made it their priority from day one to create mutual wins for their employees, clients, and the communities in which Technology Partners operates.
Lisa is also the host of The Something Extra podcast, inspired by Lisa’s youngest daughter, Ally who has Down syndrome. She scientifically has an extra 21st chromosome but has many “something extras” like extra love and compassion, intuition and, in her words, “moves.” This is a leadership podcast where she interviews leaders from all walks of life to learn from them what it takes to be a leader in today’s marketplace.