Great leaders need a love quotient

“To gain success, a person will need high EQ; if you don’t want to lose quickly, you will need a high IQ, and if you want to be respected, you need high LQ — the IQ of love.” These were the words uttered by one of the richest men on Earth, Jack Ma, at the World Economic Summit in Davos recently. The founder of Alibaba has always been an iconic figure that most entrepreneurs look up to, hoping to learn his ways and emulate his success. And when they’re tips coming straight from the horse’s mouth, the world stops to listen.

The Love Quotient is the simple act of being kind towards people, be it at the workplace or with one’s own family. Being at the top can get lonely but when you have the force of your people with you, no goal seems too far away. There are many who are excellent at their jobs, but people only remember the few who have been able to touch hearts. 

One of the best examples is Bengaluru’s business magnate, Embassy Group chairman Jitu Virwani. The billionaire, who regularly features in Forbes, is appreciated even by taxi drivers for his candour with them. Dressed in a simple shirt and tie, he is often seen sharing a meal with the helps’ kids. Then there’s designer Sabyasaachi. When a customer approached him to get a dress sewn for her daughter’s wedding, and was concerned that she could not afford his tariff, Sabyasaachi assured her that he could very well make it under her budget.

Closer home, Aruna Bahuguna, the first woman director of the National Defence Academy has lived by this principal. She recalls, “When I was in training, we were told to not show our soft side, and that a police person should be tough and rigid. But when I got down to service, it was very different. I was actually dealing with people and it wasn’t just theoretical anymore. One should be human and humane to gain respect, else no success is worthy. Police personnel often see crime and we are human after all, so it can be a lot to take.”

She adds, “As a boss, when you show compassion towards your subordinates and their well being, the kind of loyalty that they will repay you with is amazing. It is also equally important to show compassion to law breakers. Most of them are in that position because circumstances have pushed them to that point. If you treat them as human beings, they will actually listen and stay motivated to change.”

Former DGP Anurag Sharma agrees with Aruna. One of his biggest satisfactions at the time of his retirement was that his colleagues really liked him. He explains, “When I had met APJ Abdul Kalam, he had told me to work as a team member even if I was the boss. He said, ‘If the team does some good work, let them showcase it. The boss will get the credit anyway. But when something goes wrong, a boss must step forward and take one for the team. This will ensure a healthy rapport with your colleagues and they will give their best to not let you down’.”

The same holds true for politics too. Cabinet Minister for Irrigation, Marketing and Legislative Affairs of Telangana, Harish Rao is known to be a people’s person. Every day, a host of people from his constituency come to him to share their grievances, and he is said to attend to each one of their matters immediately, after requesting the other MLAs and MPs to wait for a while. 

“It is very easy for a politician to earn a bad name. Just one pointer on social media and overnight, you could be finished. As a minister, people come from really far off to meet me and ask for help. I have to prioritise, and it is only fair to give a few minutes of my time to someone who has toiled all day to reach here,” says Harish Rao. He adds, “It is important to be patient and not make false promises. Sometimes, people ask for government jobs and I have to tell them that it can only happen through merit,” explains Rao.

Another businessman who resonates with the ideal of LQ deeply is Sandeep Agarwal of Ratnadeep supermarket. “There are people who have been working with us for the past 30 years, ever since the venture’s inception. This is possible only because of the love and respect that we share amongst colleagues and subordinates. Compassion is one of the most fundamental things for a business to become successful,” says Agarwal.

Politician and fashion designer Shaina N.C. sums it up — “It’s important for an individual to have a high Love Quotient, and not just in the professional sphere. Often, we are inconsiderate towards our own families and closed ones. I believe one should treat their family and friends with empathy as well. In fact, partnerships — be it relationships or business ones — can benefit by the Love Quotient.”

— With inputs from Pooja Salvi