Julie Kennedy Oehlert on Why Love Might Be the Most Underrated Leadership Skill
I never considered love a necessary element in leadership. At least, not until I spoke with Julie Kennedy Oehlert. From ER nurse to healthcare executive to brand officer and author, Julie has brought empathy, compassion, and openness to every position.
Leadership in Healthcare
Julie describes the current state of our healthcare system as polarizing. Given our political climate and the fact that we’re only just gaining back our footing after a global pandemic, it seems inevitable. When people experience a significant amount of stress in their personal lives, they can’t help but bring a bit of that into the workplace. It’s not a lack of discipline. It’s not an inability to compartmentalize. It’s just human nature. This is why psychological safety in the workplace is so important. Now more than ever, leaders need to create an environment where their entire team feels they can navigate the workplace without fear of judgment or prosecution. While Julie’s take on psychological safety primarily referenced her experience in healthcare, I’m inclined to believe it translates to leadership in any organization. Good things grow when you plant seeds in safe soil.
Mental Health in Leadership
As a new generation enters the workforce, so too do new ideals. Conversations about burnout and mental health were once few and far between. Now the tides are shifting. As Millennials and Gen-Zers work their way up through the corporate ladder, we’re seeing prioritization of mental health. As I like to say,y “and they’re not wrong.” When we prioritize mental health, we give people the opportunity to perform at their highest. I was happy to hear from Julie that she’s noticed more and more executive leaders openly prioritizing mental health, both for themselves and their teams. Many people in leadership positions fear being seen as incompetent. Thus, the conversation of mental health often goes unspoken. But where the leader goes, their team follows. If you, as a leader, are feeling burnt out and unmotivated, chances are your team is, too.
New Generations in the Workplace
There’s a certain candor and authenticity I bring to this new generation in the workforce. They aren’t afraid to set clear boundaries between work and personal life. They prioritize efficiency. And, they aren’t scared to self-advocate. So many of my colleagues turn their noses up at what is new because they don’t understand it. Or perhaps they weren’t afforded the same experiences. Though they are green in many ways, young people are teaming with new ideas and perspectives. Julie and I discussed the importance of reverse mentorship. Having that give-and-take between current and future leaders. We, as the leaders of today, can provide what can only be learned through lived experience, and they, as the leaders of tomorrow, can share what can only be seen through fresh eyes.
The Importance of Good Senior Leadership
We’ve all heard the saying, “People don’t leave their jobs. They leave their manager.” Julie argues that in today’s environment, people don’t leave their managers. They leave their senior team. Many of us have lost trust in traditional societal pillars, such as our government and religious organizations. In times as divisive as the ones we live in now, people are turning to businesses as a new pillar. Business leaders need to create an organization that reflects the changing needs of the people they serve. While some leaders may see this as an impossible task, Julie sees it as refreshing. She sees this as an exciting challenge that will push organizations to do better by their people, saying, “I think it’s a good thing that we are challenged to provide a better workforce that is more like what people want.”
Leading With Love
When Julie talks about leading with love, she isn’t referring to romantic love or paternalistic love. Simply love for humanity. People want to find connection and purpose in their work. Julie commented that as leaders, “we have not been wired to give them that.” This is where she urges a change. The give-and-take between leader and follower is a relationship. One that needs to be fostered. As Julie says, “Great leaders are with their people.”
For more from Julie Kennedy Oehlert, listen to her full episode of the Step Wise podcast here.
