In our constant search for psychological fulfillment and growth, few concepts rival the complexity and importance of love. Love is found in our personal relationships, but also shapes our communities and our professional interactions. As a psychologist who studies leadership development, I have learned that while the concept of “love” is often unspoken and not discussable in some contexts—particularly in the corporate and professional spheres—it can be experienced, learned, and explored through the practice of inclusive leadership.

Inclusive leadership is characterized by behaviors like empathy and compassion, safe and collaborative communication, openness to new perspectives, fair and respectful treatment of others, and continuous learning and growth. Love is described similarly with some notable additions including affection and care, selflessness and sacrifice, and unconditional acceptance, as well as some exceptions such as a specific commitment to diversity and equity, and deliberate allyship. Fortunately, both love and inclusion are associated with greater happiness, well-being, and creativity. Between the two, love is the more complex concept while inclusion can be considered a specific expression of love, helping us to better understand what love is and how we can create it. To experience deeper levels of psychological fulfillment in our lives, then, perhaps inclusion and love can learn some important lessons from each other.

First, let’s compare love and inclusion. Both fundamentally shape personal and communal well-being by influencing relationship dynamics. Love, often imbued with affection, care, and selflessness, manifests in personal connections and interpersonal dynamics, strengthening bonds of understanding and empathy. As bell hooks famously shared, “Love is an act of will, both an intention and an action.” Similarly, inclusion, as embodied in inclusive leadership, requires active empathy, collaboration, and respect. While love encompasses aspects of unconditional acceptance and commitment, inclusion........

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