Anyone thinking that making love the leader in world conflicts, or business decisions would just lead to chaos might be surprised if they stop and consider the true anatomy of love.
When we think of love we think of the heart.
The heart does more than keep us alive physically. We attribute it with the ability to feel, connect, be in relationship with others at a deeper level. The brain can’t do that.
We speak of ‘broken hearts’ when our feelings get badly hurt signalling that the heart helps us make deeper connection.
But the heart is also present when we consider qualities such as courage and compassion. So, what if the heart is actually the perfect organ through which to lead? The Lion in the Wizard of Oz would agree as he searched for the courage needed to lead his companions out of the dangers and strangeness of Oz.
When facing challenges and opportunities in our leadership what if we asked, ‘what would love do?’ For example, how would love handle the resolution of war, world poverty or global politics?
The sceptics might say love wouldn’t be up to it – wouldn’t have the strength to address issues of this magnitude. Yet the infinite reach of compassion, courage, kindness, connection, strong relationship, listening and more, might tell a different story.
The strength of pure love lies in its vastness, its ability to embrace all situations, however tough they may be and to do so with the optimal blend of toughness and softness. We’d be mistaken if we think of love as naïve or a pushover. The difference with love being the leader is that it is more inclusive, it seeks to listen to understand, it favours reading between the lines and sensing, not just rapid action. This isn’t easy or for the faint-hearted.
Love seeks to build the climate in which mega issues can be addressed for the long-term.
We’ve tried building our world on power, control, competition and might. Maybe it’s time to up the love quotient in our leadership and create a quantum change.