#19 A Lesson From Martin Luther King

Politics alone cannot bring about the change so many of us hope for.

Which also means that the result of any given election will not stop it from happening either.

I have long believed that business will be the driving force of change, and creating a world that is more sustainable and just.

But for all the talk of hope in recent days - it must be combined with action.

And this is the big opportunity we have as business leaders.

3 min read

Martin Luther King Jr had a unique ability to balance the spiritual with the practical; to turn positive intent into action and results.

But he learned this the hard way.

In the mid 1960s, Martin Luther King was at a point of crisis.

His civil rights campaigns were gathering momentum but making little real progress.

It was enough to result in constant death threats on one side, but on the other he was criticised for being too soft, to eager to make compromises.

The soul searching during this period marked a turning point where MLK realised he must go further in his methods to ensure they bring results.

Fill the Streets and the Jails

He would stick to his principles: protests and demonstrations would remain non-violent, but were escalated to tactics of mass civil disobedience.

His team enlisted youths - something MLK previously resisted - helping to fill the streets with protesters, and subsequently fill up the jails.

This ramped up the pressure on authorities and brought them to the negotiating table.

This new approach brought a string of successes that ultimately led to the Civil Rights Act.

Balancing Act

A key factor in Martin Luther King’s achievements was his ability to balance the spiritual and the practical.

He was reflective, philosophical and deeply caring – whilst also being strategic, analytical and results-driven.

Love was the means and the end, but MLK knew that a cutting edge was needed to get there.

He added a ruthless streak, whilst remaining committed to his principle of showing love to the oppressors.

His achievements would not have been possible without this delicate balance between Love and Power.

Down to Business

Business has great potential to bring about change.

For all its faults and criticisms, capitalism is the most powerful means we have for spreading ideas, being unrestricted by borders, language or political cycles.

Profit is the fuel that enables an idea to be spread – this the ‘power’ element of the equation and our task is to combine it with a loving purpose.

For any company, social enterprise or even a non-profit that has such a purpose at its core, being financially successful is key to building momentum and pursuing its mission.

This is why I care so much about 'Purpose and Profit' - it gives agency to business leaders to create the change we know is needed, regardless of the intent and capability of government.

Unlock the Synergies

‘Work’ is such a dominant force in our lives, and often a place that we associate with a lack of emotion, care or sentiment.

It often feels like the “power without love” as described by Martin Luther King.

But must it be this way?

Driven by a shared sense of purpose and in an environment of trust, people in such organisations are happier, more productive, more innovative and provide better service to customers.

Customers spend more, stick around for longer and become your advocates.

Suppliers and investors are more supportive, willing to go the extra mile for the pursuit of a shared mission – something that a purely transactional partner never would.

These organisations attract and retain the best people. They are happier places and more financially successful as a result.

When done right, purpose and profit are synergistic.

A Force for Good

The B Corp movement also reflects the concept of balancing Love ("Good") with Power ("Force").

And the Better Business Act, an initiative led by B Lab UK, seeks to amend the Companies Act so that directors are bound by law to advance the interests of all stakeholders (including wider society and the environment) rather than solely those of shareholders.

Business can be powerful enough to reshape the macroeconomic environment, rather than being determined by it.

So there certainly is hope.

But more than that, there is plenty of action that can be taken.

And the Towards Better Insider will continue to serve business leaders committed to being the driving force of change, providing practical insights on how to balance Purpose and Profit.

One small action you can take right now is to share this with other business leaders that are making a difference, and invite them to join at this link.

Thanks for your support.