Open the news, and it’s like stepping into a boxing ring for a fight you didn’t sign up for. Conflict dominates headlines, social media feels like a cage match, and even business language sounds combative—companies “battle” for market share or “conquer” competitors. No wonder leaders think fighting is the only path forward.

Here’s the radical truth: it isn’t. Love is a better way forward.

Window: Meaningful Action Over Fighting

Thich Nhat Hanh popularized Engaged Buddhism—the idea that mindfulness and compassion are meant for real-world action, not quiet retreat. He urged us to pause before reacting and ask whether our choices reduce suffering or add to it.  

Marcus Aurelius warned that retaliation only deepens our suffering; true strength comes from mastering ourselves. 

Desmond Tutu distilled it down to this: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

Notice, none of them said to ignore the problem. This isn’t about avoiding conflict—it’s about stepping into it differently, with courage rooted in love instead of fear.

When Fighting Energy Knocks—Pivot to Love

Even the best leaders get tested. These everyday scenarios show how quickly things can go sideways—and how a love-powered pivot can flip the script:

• A competitor slashes prices. Fight reflex: launch a discount war and trash-talk them in sales meetings. Love move: reinforce why customers trust you—call your top clients, ask what matters most, and demonstrate value through connection, not just cost.
• An employee screws up. Fight reflex: serve a public reprimand or cut them loose to “send a message.” Love move: meet them with accountability and empathy. Unpack system gaps, learn together, and co-create safeguards. 
• The board demands short-term gains. Fight reflex: defend or fold under pressure. Love move: anchor the discussion in long-term vision. Show how ethical, values-based decisions protect the brand and generate lasting results.

Profits Don’t Suffer When You Lead with Love

Leading with love doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice profits. In fact, it can increase profits. For example:

• Patagonia doubled down on environmental stewardship and fair labor, even suing the U.S. government to protect public lands. Far from hurting business, this authenticity fueled record sales and fierce customer loyalty.
• Unilever, under Paul Polman, scrapped quarterly earnings guidance to focus on long-term sustainability. Investors grumbled at first, but the strategy delivered stronger growth and shareholder returns that outpaced competitors.
• Costco built loyalty by paying employees well above industry averages and keeping markups capped. That culture of fairness drove legendary customer trust—and a stock price that has outperformed Amazon over the past 15 years.

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5 Love-Powered Amare Leadership Moves

1. Pause before pushing back. Breathe and ask: What outcome do I really want—and how can love move us there?

2. Make values tangible. If “respect” is core, show it: end meetings with appreciation, invite dissent safely, and avoid mudslinging.

3. Lead with curiosity, not defensiveness. Say: “Help me understand your view,” or “What would success look like for both of us?”

4. Celebrate love-led wins. Highlight stories where connection resulted in breakthroughs—because storytelling spreads culture faster than emails.

5. Inscribe ritual in culture. Start meetings with “One thing you’re grateful for.” Small rituals breed big trust.

The Real Challenge

Here’s the hard truth: leading with love isn’t easy. Fear creeps in—fear that competitors will outpace you, investors will lose patience, or your company will get ghosted in the marketplace. 

Love-powered leadership doesn’t mean being naïve. It means choosing clarity, courage, and care over knee-jerk aggression.

So the next time you feel the urge to fight, pause. Lower the volume. Ask a question instead of defending. Lead with meaning, not fear.

Love in leadership is not weak. It is strength combined with compassion. 

And it might just be the most underutilized competitive edge in business today.

In solidarity,

Moshe

Today’s Amare Wave Wednesday Quote

“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others.” 

— General Douglas MacArthur

Acknowledgement: Gratitude to Dan Glick for inspiring this edition.

   

Click here and read more Amare Wave Wednesday newsletters on related topics:

Six Ways to Increase Your Self-Awareness in Leadership and Business

Do You Know You? 7 Amare Steps to Self-Aware Leadership

The Smart Leader’s Team-Building Shortcut? Fun Strategic Retreats

Lead with Confidence: How to Stay Grounded in Times of Constant Change

The Beautiful Art of Letting Go: Why Leaders Need to Destroy the Old to Create the New

   

Original article published on Inc.com.