THL Refresher: Rich Sheridan, Chief Joy Officer

Truly Human Leadership

Rich Sheridan is the CEO and co-founder of Menlo Innovations, a software development company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He's the author of the books Joy, Inc. and Chief Joy Officer: How Great Leaders Elevate Human Energy and Eliminate Fear.

In chapter three of Chief Joy Officer, Rich says “If there is a core tenet upon which I would build my leadership life, and in doing so inspire those I led, it is this: love wins every time.” He then goes on to relate one of the most famous passages of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, to the qualities of a loving leader.

Whether or not you’re a religious person – in fact, that verse is used often in even the most secular of wedding ceremonies – the relation of what the verse says to the qualities a leader should have is powerful.

Rich talks about this chapter on this podcast. However, we encourage you to pick up his book and read for yourself. That chapter alone may affect the way you approach your responsibility for those entrusted to your care in your organization.