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If you’ve ever watched the markets swing wildly, you’ve seen the Fear & Greed Index in action. When fear spikes, people rush to sell. When greed takes over, people rush to buy. Two different actions, both fueled by ego. This dynamic shows up in leadership situations, too, guarding your authority, pushing for more influence, and defending your ideas.
Fear says, “I can’t lose what I have.” Greed says, “I must have more.” Both come from the same belief: “I’m not safe unless …”
A better continuum for leaders
Most people picture fear and greed as opposites pulling in different directions. However, in leadership, they sit side-by-side at the same end of the continuum—the ego end. On the other end of that continuum is love-powered leadership—uplifting and connecting with grounded, expansive energy that brings you back to clarity and connection.
This difference between ego and love isn’t philosophical. It shows up in the real world every day. When you operate from fear or greed, you contract. You get smaller. When you lead with love, your impact expands. You can see the difference clearly in how leaders respond during moments of pressure.
In 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down travel, Airbnb faced a brutal reality: Revenue evaporated and big layoffs were inevitable. Fear would’ve pushed for silence and damage control. Brian Chesky instead led with open communication and generous severance. That’s leading with love.
Then, consider what happened this month at Omnicom. In the wake of its massive merger, CEO Troy Ruhanen announced 4,000 more layoffs as the holidays began. That was paired with a LinkedIn post celebrating “a new chapter” and “the industry’s most comprehensive capabilities.”
Reactions came quickly, many pointing out how tone-deaf and inhumane the message was to people facing real loss. As a leader, you’ll inevitably be faced with tough choices. When you see the clear difference between acting from ego and love, you can choose consciously.
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Moshe Engelberg
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