Should Your Boss Say 'I Love You' — Or Is That Weird?
In this video, Dr. Justin Baeder discusses whether principals and supervisors expressing love for their staff crosses professional boundaries.
Key Takeaways
- It can be weird - While well-intentioned, 'I love you' from a supervisor can feel uncomfortable and cross professional boundaries
- Professional appreciation has its own language - Respect, trust, and gratitude are powerful without romantic or familial undertones
- Know your audience - Some teams may be comfortable with this language; others will find it inappropriate
Transcript
Is it weird for your boss to say, I love you?
I think it is.
I saw a post on a Facebook page where teachers were commenting about different things that their principals did that made them feel valued.
And one person said, my principal tells everybody every morning, I love you.
And I just have to say, that feels like not a professional thing to say.
That feels like a boundary is being crossed.
So let me know, what do you think?
Is love something that should be mentioned in the context of a supervisor, employee, or principal-teacher relationship?
Let me know.
school leadership
professional boundaries
workplace culture