Leadership is Love
A practical guide for a radical idea
Self-Empowerment
By:
Christopher Leonard, PsyD
What if the most powerful leadership strategy isn’t authority, control, or charisma—but love?
In Leadership is Love: A Practical Guide for a Radical Idea, licensed psychologist Dr. Christopher Leonard delivers an honest, courageous call to lead differently. Drawing on years of clinical insight and real-world leadership experience, he challenges the traditional playbook and replaces it with something far more effective—and far more human.
Through engaging stories, lived experience, and easy-to-digest steps, Dr. Leonard shows how leaders can move beyond fear-based management. He demonstrates that while organizations invest heavily in structural tools—policies, metrics, corrective actions—the true drivers of performance are relationship tools: empathy, appreciation, listening, trust, and understanding.
If you’re ready to challenge conventional leadership strategies and lead the whole human being in your workplace, Leadership is Love will show you how to transform not only your organization—but every relationship you influence.
“Leadership is Love is an honest, courageous call to lead differently. Dr. Christopher Leonard reminds us that when leaders center humanity, trust, and care, organizations become stronger—and people do too.”
-- Rick Muma, Ph.D., MPH, PA-C, Wichita State President
“Through real experiences and clear, actionable lessons, Leadership is Love shows how leaders can replace fear and control with trust, accountability, and genuine care, and build stronger organizations because of it.”
-- Curt Coffman, New York Times best-selling author of First, Break all the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Differently
“With clarity, humor, and honest self-reflection, Leonard equips leaders with practical tools to build and sustain relationships, set expectations that are meaningful and accurate, and react with empathy. Leadership is Love is for leaders who are ready to challenge their conventional strategies to lead the whole being of their workplace.”
-- Selena R. Jackson, Ph.D., licensed psychologist, author, & speaker
“Dr. Leonard’s practical and highly readable book demonstrates that relationship tools … are impactful for accelerating growth, strengthening team cohesion, and elevating performance.”
-- Gerald H. Graham, Ph.D., R.P., Clinton Distinguished Professor of Management at Wichita State University and author of Lead: How Effective Leaders Get Things Done and High-Performance Leadership Practices
“Leadership is Love offers tangible strategies for shaping healthier work environments and culture. Leaning into its ideas can spark truly transformational workplaces, and you can live them out daily in all your relationships.”
-- Danielle Johnson, MPA, Executive Director, Wichita Habitat for Humanity