WORKPLACE PSYCHOLOGY
What Happened When I Told My Employee I Loved Him
The surprising experience revealed why I was a successful leader
It was a random Tuesday evening, and I was getting ready to head home for the day. I stopped at the front desk to chat with James, a massage therapist I’d been managing for years, about a situation he was dealing with. We continued to talk as our front office coordinator pulled charts for the following day.
As we wrapped things up, I turned to leave and said, “Have a great night, James. Love you.”
My hand flew to my mouth, and I stopped walking, slowly turning all the way around to face him. He had a smile on his face, and before I figured out what to say, James replied, “Love you too, Boss.”
Embarrassed, I stammered and stuttered before saying, “I have no idea why I said that. I apologize.” James waved me off, and I turned to leave, feeling uncomfortable. On the way home, I tried to process why those words passed by my lips unabated, and what I discovered surprised me.
When I first started working at South Sound Therapy, I was the marketing director. I enjoyed meeting with local doctors, setting up lunch and learns, and creating patient appreciation events. About a year into my job, the local…
