Love and…Business?

The latest by Marcus Buckingam is both confirmatory and inspirational

Earlier this month, Meta Platforms announced layoffs impacting ~10% of its workforce, alongside plans to redirect investment toward AI. These decisions are part of business reality. I’ve been part of similar decisions myself over a long HR career.

At the same time, I had started reading Design Love In: How to Unleash the Most Powerful Force in Business by Marcus Buckingham. Its premise is that experiences drive behaviors, and behaviors drive outcomes.

Buckingham explains that when people describe experiences that lead to their best work, they often use a simple word: love. I love my team. I love that my input is valued. I love what I get to do. And so on…

Leaders can deliberately design how work is experienced: How a candidate is treated in the recruiting process, whether hired or not. How someone is welcomed and set up to succeed on their first day. How a manager listens and supports work progression in a 1:1. Even how an employee exits the company—with clarity, respect, and support.

In my view, the Meta moment and others like it create a real test—and opportunity—for leadership. Restructuring for the future and designing love in are not opposites — they should happen together.

Leaders who intentionally design love in to day-to-day experiences build organizations where people are seen, valued, and supported—and will be the ones people choose—and choose to stay with.

I’m finding both confirmation and inspiration in this book and practical applications that will build on my coaching and corporate client work.