Great Leaders Practice Love and Care at the Workplace.
I’ll never forget an experience that still inspires me today. It was back in 2018 when I was elected as the President of the Maldives Association of HR Professionals (MAHRP). The very first person outside the HR community to congratulate me was Dominik Ruhl, who at the time was the Chief Operating Officer of LUX* Resorts and Hotels. His heartfelt message and email encouraged me to serve my community with confidence — I drew so much inspiration from that simple yet meaningful gesture.
Fast forward to today, I feel incredibly fortunate to have a leader who embodies the same values. John Rogers, our General Manager for LUX* South Ari Atoll, is a perfect example. Every time I return from a work trip — whether it’s abroad or locally for community work — his first question is never about tasks or pending projects. Instead, he asks, “How did your training go? How was the community event? How was your visit?” These kinds of leaders are rare in today’s fast-paced world, where most of us are constantly chasing deadlines and deliverables. But when leaders treat their people as human beings first, that’s when they bring out the best in them.
When leaders lead with love, care, and compassion, employees naturally go the extra mile. They pour their heart, soul, and energy into their work. They live and breathe the organization’s purpose — something that the thought-provoking leadership guru, Simon Sinek, often speaks about.
Leadership can be both hard and easy. It becomes easy when leaders focus on the small things that genuinely matter to their people — not just grand gestures once in a while. Great leaders are always observing, always listening, always paying attention to what truly matters to their teams.
Just imagine… how would you feel when you return from leave and the first thing your leader asks is, “How’s your family? How was your holiday?” instead of, “Did you finish that project?”
It’s a small difference — but one that defines great leadership.
What are your thoughts on this? Reflect and share ????