Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Real Success

This book was a super easy read & I felt like I should underline & highlight everything on every page!

Does love and leadership go together? After reading this book you will be more aware of the power of love and how leaders can change the world. This book shows that there is still good in the world and that people can make each others lives more meaningful and happy. "Lead with LUV" is basically a conversation between Ken Blanchard and Colleen Barrett. Mostly what is discussed is the positive aspects of experiences with Southwest Airlines. Customers, pilots and employees share their thoughts on a company that just keeps making people enjoy their flights. Some of the stories from customers will bring tears to your eyes they are so beautiful. I wish the airlines I flew on didn't charge for baggage. There were many things in this book that impressed me and the fact that you can make a company run so smoothly by following the golden rule gives me hope for the world. One of the things I really liked about this book is how it brings up the topic of praise. I love that Southwest Airlines tries to find people doing good things and rewards them. This is a quick read but will leave you with a powerful message of change. It is still possible to be successful all while showing love in everything you do. While I can recommend this to leaders I think it might just be a book anyone can benefit from.~The Rebecca Review

not really a travel book or business book but a mix of those two plus a dash of seriously useful philosophical suggestions for a better world, this book reads easily because it is a genuine dialogue between old friends. using the approach of good customer service and using that golden role mentality, the result was (and is, i assume) the basis for the highly impressive success of Southwest Airlines. having working in travel, with my IATAN card years ago, I knew a thing or 2 about the industry and was blown away by the greed of the top execs. Ms Barrett is clearly not like that at all, in fact she's the antithesis to all selfishness and greed. instead, she outlines in witty dialogue with Mr. Blanchard, the basis and steps to good customer satisfaction and takes it s step further to talk about how employees are also a valuable aspect. instead of thinking of the bottom line and going all greedy like a Gordon Gekko type, Ms. Barrett insists and outlines and details why true leadership is about love, not a weak soft, pushover love, but how if we only use the golden rule and value employees and remember the little things in life, that not only will business be better but the world would be a happier AND MORE PRODUCTIVE place which would yield more profit anyways which is what the greedy types want anyways so why not just use the L.U.V. approach anytime in any company? if only people did.

I fully enjoyed reading this book. Blanchard and Barrett are 2 of the best individuals to explain how to be successful in developing and maintaining a business through the heart of Servant Leadership. The examples they provide in this book assist those of us who believe that caring for our employees, developing and mentoring coworkers, and supporting and celebrating each other, allows our businesses and our work to be LUV centered and positively successful. Concentrating on knowing your vision and your goals does not mean we step on, beat down, or intimidate employees to be successful - quite the contrary! Through caring and encouraging, catching our employees doing something right and acknowledging these successes, we allow and encourage greatness. By acknowledging them we provide access to be magnificent and by supporting them through life's ups and downs we show them that we care and this allows for increased productivity and satisfaction on the job. It is loving your vision, your employees, and yourself enough to get out of the way and allow people to shine and be successful. Great book, wonderful authors, inspirational messages, and fantastic advice for any business that wants to bring a loving purpose to the heart of its mission and values!!

I've not written a review of any book in a while as not many have moved me and frankly, I may have been in a down cycle regarding having an optimistic outlook on business when so many jobs have been turned negatively and the pyramid of service flipped back to serve the heirarchy first. This book was a quick kick in the ass to remind me of what is slipping away in this economic downturn where bullies rise to the top in favor of cost control. In an interview format Ken Blanchard teams with Colleen Barrett of Southwest to highlight that while airlines are struggling, going bankrupt and merging out of necessity Southwest values have shown that aside from safety, if your people first, your customers second that profit will come and costs will be controlled by the love you receive back. Stating the values of a Warrior Spirit, a Servant's Heart and a Fun LUVing attitude (ode to Southwest) it was the right book at the right time to wake up the dormant leader inside of me.

When you are starting to feel a little bit cynical and worn out from corporate America, when you wonder if what you do or say at your job means anything in the great picture of things, when you want to have "chicken soup for the working soul" than come read this book. BETTER YET, listen to the audio version, which packs a greater emotional punch. You will really feel uplifted, and determined to go back to your job and make a difference in other people's lives, which is the only true way to make a difference in your own.

Excellent book. Very human. It is a great convergence of leadership and love. Really a Wonderful perspective. Read in one go.

great read

Viele anregende Ideen - gut strukturiert. South West Airlines (LUV) ist in vielen Dingen, wenn es um Strategie und Mitarbeiterzufriedenheit geht wirklich ein sehr gutes Vorbild