No one wants to feel alone at work. Loving leaders create a sense of warmth by making sure people feel supported, guided, and connected to those around them. Here’s how to build that kind of community on your team.
Offer yourself as a guide. When onboarding a new team member, be explicit that you’re their go-to person. Make it clear you’re there to help them navigate both the work and the organization. Having a trusted point of contact increases engagement, confidence, and retention.
Pair team members strategically. Look for partnerships that naturally click. Match people with complementary skills, aligned interests, or compatible working styles. Strong one-on-one connections create a foundation of trust that makes the broader team feel more cohesive.
Define a shared identity. Clarify what your team does well and why it matters. Outline the strengths that set the group apart and contribute to its success. When people understand how they fit into the bigger picture, they feel a stronger sense of belonging and purpose. |
|
|
This week’s tips are adapted from Marcus Buckingham’s new book, Design Love In: How to Unleash the Most Powerful Force in Business (HBR Press). The book posits that love—the deep connection that makes people feel seen, valued, and inspired—isn’t just a soft feeling, but a measurable driver of performance and growth. Buckingham identifies five feelings leaders must foster in their employees to lead them with love. Each day this week, we’ll be outlining one of these key feelings, and how to nurture it on your team.
|
|
|
|
A subscription gives you access to HBR’s research, analysis, and archive, so you can return to the ideas shaping management whenever you need them. |
| |
|
|
Harvard Business Review Virtual Event |
Drive change and build trust in the AI age
Join us Wednesday, May 20. Featuring Angela Duckworth, Tan Su Shan, Carla Vernón, Linda Hill, and more. |
| |
|
The HBR App:
Get the best in leadership thinking on-the-go. |
|
|
You are receiving this because you registered at hbr.org to receive The Management Tip of the Day emails, or you provided us with your email address.
If you prefer not to receive The Management Tip of the Day emails, please unsubscribe.
You may also Manage Email Preferences, view our Privacy Policy, or Contact Us.
To ensure email delivery, add emailteam@emails.hbr.org to your address book, contacts, or safe sender list. Harvard Business Publishing, 20 Guest St, Suite 400, Brighton, MA 02135
Copyright © 2026 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
