Episode recap:

Marcel discussed his new book, Humane Leadership, which emphasizes the importance of expressing actionable love in the workplace and the need for leaders to care for their employees. He also emphasized the importance of continuous learning and growth in leadership, as well as the necessity of developing people skills to achieve business success. Marcel also mentioned that he is offering bonus content, including chapters 3 and 4, on his Substack platform. Go to Marcelschwantes.substack.com and access the Humane Leadership tab for the bonus content.

Bio:

Marcel Schwantes is a speaker, author, and acclaimed executive coach with a global following. Marcel delivers presentations, workshops, courses, and coaching programs about the human side of business and how cultures of care, connection, and belonging power companies to thrive and outperform the competition.

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Show Notes

Quotes:

• “People want to feel cared for, but I call it for what it really is. People want to feel loved.”
• “Every employee is someone’s daughter or son, spouse or partner, and each one depends on their leader for guidance, care, protection, and a sense of belonging within the community.”
• “Deep down, effective leadership is love practically demonstrated to achieve business success and leave a legacy.”  

Takeaways:

• Reflect on how you currently view your employees – are you seeing them as human beings with hopes and fears, or just as resources to achieve business goals?
• Practice agape love in your leadership approach by actively demonstrating commitment, loyalty, and genuine care for your team members’ success and personal growth.
• Challenge yourself to replace transactional workplace interactions with meaningful connections that prioritize human dignity and mutual respect.
• Gain deeper insights into transforming your leadership style from a results-only mindset to a people-centered approach.
• Start one small action today that shows your team you value them beyond their professional output – listen deeply, offer genuine support, or recognize their individual contributions. 

 Timestamps:

[00:03] What Humane Leadership Actually Looks Like

[01:58] Why Love Isn’t Soft in the Workplace 

[03:19] Seeing Your Team as Humans Not Headcount 

[06:44] How Love Gets Misunderstood in Business 

[09:07] What Agape Leadership Means in Real Life 

Conclusion: 

Workplaces become stronger when people are treated with real care and respect. When leaders act with kindness and put people first, they build teams that feel safe, motivated, and connected. This means paying attention to what employees need—not just to get the job done, but to grow as individuals. Strong leadership isn’t about control; it’s about helping others succeed. When people feel valued, everyone benefits, including the business. 

The Book

Links/Resources:

The book: Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss

Substack: marcelschwantes.substack.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/

Twitter/X: x.com/MarcelSchwantes

YouTube: youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1

Instagram: instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

Now Accepting Podcast Sponsors

We would be delighted to accept your sponsorship for future episodes as we challenge current management thinking and practices and build skills around human leadership and human-centered work cultures. If interested, contact Marcel.