Power & Love in China

Adam Kahane asks: What is it that makes power degenerative rather than generative? It is the absence of love. And what is it that makes love degenerative rather than generative? It is the absence of power. Martin Luther King said, “Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic.”

In a corporate team building workshop using African drums, we often use metaphor to tease out how a company orchestrates its business. For example, we could say that power is mostly expressed when playing at louder volume, and love is expressed when playing at a quieter, more nuanced volume. Simpler, straight ahead drum beats are generally more yang/power related, with more complex or refined rhythms being more yin/love based. The crucial balance of power and love means everyone is heard and is able to make a contribution. Extended high volume drumming is fatiguing. A whole session of quiet drumming lacks forward movement and impact.

If you are seeking a more balanced life you might consider where you locate yourself in the power and love continuum. How can you strengthen power or love when one is falling behind? Theologian Paul Tillich’s definitions of power and love may help. “Power is the drive of everything living to realize itself with increasing intensity and extensity. Love is the drive to unify the separated. One way that has worked for me is to be curious about people that are quite different than me and hang out more with them. Lots to learn from each other!

And a Drum Circle team building session for business leaders – the ideal experience is when it’s power-ful and lover-ful!!!