Happy Valentines Day
This Sunday is Valentines Day (or perhaps more properly, St. Valentines Day) and provokes the question of love. I presume we all give cards with wonderful poetry to our spouses, significant others, boy or girl friend, maybe even our children. Let me explain what mine would be if it were to be given to the most powerful people in the world.
It occurred to me to think about love as a value in the exercise of power. Does the idea of “love” have anything to offer the politician in the management of her campaign for office, the Hollywood director selection of a scene or the portrayal of a woman, or the business man in deciding how to treat an employee?
Discussions of “love” usually come from poetry, romance books, and religion. Not much discussion – at least that I can find – about love in the world as an attribute in the exercise of power. Yet, it seems to me that the lessons or attributes of a loving attitude – if not heart – are meaningful and useful in all parts of ones life. And especially if one has the privilege of occupying a position of influence and power, thoughts of behaving with a loving attitude might result in better outcomes.
Most descriptions of love – and certainly around Valentines Day – focus on affection toward someone. “I love my wife”. It can also be used to reflect enjoyment of various activities or objects. “I love football.” What few people do is talk about the attributes of love – what one does when one “loves”.
What one “does” in my view is to develop and project certain key attributes. One of the key attributes of “love” that I find articulated, especially in a religious context, is ‘humility” or “meekness”. That is, in relationship with others, one is modest with respect to their own needs and views. Right out of Jim Collins’ Good to Great definition of a so-called “level 5” leader. The discussion of humility in the context of a Level 5 Leader focuses on the point that the leader is committed to the success of the institution, and not their own needs, either ego or financial.
An attitude of love – selfless while focusing on the other. The other attribute of a Level 5 leader in the context of business according to Collins is the will to do what is necessary for the success of the business or enterprise. This is also in contrast to shorter term interests of others or of self. I compare that to the idea of “commitment” to others And by that I mean the ability and willingness to engage in a relationship even when it isn’t feeling good or making oneself happy, but is achieving a goal of meeting critical needs of people.
So, thinking of a loving attitude as one that is a selfless approach to the exercise of power that projects a strong commitment to the success of others, here is what my Valentine’s card to the powerful might look like:
Happy Valentines Day!
Love is exercising power to create a world that fosters dignity and purpose in other people and repairs the world so that it is a more just and fair place for everyone.
Please be my Valentine as you work to achieve these goals.
