Power – Fundamental Instinct
When we look to
nature, we often discover mirrors of ourselves. Animals evolve naturally,
guided by instinct and necessity. Humanity, by contrast, has laboured to build civilisation
through reflection, discipline, and the establishment of value systems by great
leaders and thinkers. Yet
beneath the structures of society, primal instincts endure—hidden in the
subconscious, rising in moments of crisis.
Among these
instincts, power stands out as fundamental. Leadership itself is the social
expression of this instinct. In animals
it ensures survival, in humans it shapes civilisations.
Strategic Crow
Consider the old
story of the crow and the pot of water. Unable to reach the water at the
bottom, the crow drops pebbles in the pot until the level of water rises. This
fable, once told as a simple lesson in ingenuity, now finds new
interpretations. Today, one might imagine the crow adapting further—picking up
a straw from a grocery shop or restaurant, inserting it into the pot, and
drinking with ease.
What seems like a
playful revision is, in fact, a reflection of how learning and adaptation occur
in nature. Animals, without formal training, learn through experience,
observation, and necessity. They may not write books or blogs, but their
actions embody insight. This is leadership in its rawest form—adaptive, situational, and born
of necessity.
Collaborative Leadership in the Wild
Leadership in
animals—whether in hunting, decision-making, or social behaviour—shows us that
strategies evolve. What worked years ago may be replaced by new methods, born
of reflection and adaptation.
In the Kibale
forest of Uganda, chimpanzees have been observed raiding banana trucks with
remarkable strategic planning and teamwork. One chimpanzee acts as a lookout,
warning the group of danger, while another climbs onto the truck to break open
crates. As bananas spill onto the road, more chimps rush in to collect them.
This coordinated
effort is more than instinct—it demonstrates situational leadership shaped by
experience and the demands of the moment. Their collaboration reflects an
evolved strategy: leadership that adapts to circumstances, ensuring survival
and success through collective action.
The Three Instincts
Philosophers and
psychologists often speak of three fundamental instincts that shape both
animals and humans: Survival, Reproduction and Power
1.Survival
The instinct for
self-preservation manifests as fear, worry, aggression, and the drive to defend
oneself against harm. In animals, this is seen in territorial defense or flight
from predators. In humans, it surfaces in crises—moments when the thin layer of
morality and societal order falls away, and primal reactions take over.
Leadership here emerges as a form of protection: guiding the group to safety,
ensuring collective survival.
2.Reproduction
Sexuality, once
primarily tied to reproduction, has expanded far beyond its biological purpose.
Human beings have discovered new ways to express and experience sexuality,
often mediated by technology. Artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and
virtual realities are reshaping sexual habits, modifying not only behaviour but
the very expression of desire.
Sex has also
become intertwined with power. Wealth, influence, and networks often display
themselves through sexual expression, just as power itself demands such
demonstrations. In this sense, sexuality is no longer only about survival of
the species—it has become a symbol of status, dominance, and identity.
Leadership here is about responsibility: transforming desire into respect,
ensuring that relationships uplift rather than exploit.
3.Power
Over thousands of
years, the thirst for power in both animals and humans has shifted from instinctive
dominance behaviours to more complex, symbolic, and institutional forms.
Power in Animals
- Dominance hierarchies: Many species (wolves, lions,
primates) establish leadership through strength, strategy, or social
bonds. Alpha roles ensure survival and order.
- Territorial control: Power often manifests as control
over space, food, or mates.
- Adaptation over time: While the instinct for dominance
hasn’t diminished, strategies have evolved. Primates increasingly rely on
cooperation and alliances rather than sheer aggression.
- Learning and innovation: Experiments show crows, dolphins,
and elephants adapt their methods of problem-solving, reflecting a shift
from brute force to intelligence as a form of power.
Power in Humans
In humans, power has traveled a long
path—from physical dominance to symbolic authority, from survival to
civilization.
- Early survival: In prehistoric times, power was
physical—control over food, territory, and protection.
- Civilization: As societies formed, power shifted
to leaders who could organize, inspire, and enforce rules. Kings, chiefs,
and priests embodied authority.
- Institutionalization: Over centuries, power became
embedded in structures—governments, religions, economies. It was no longer
just physical but symbolic, tied to wealth, knowledge, and legitimacy.
- Modern transformation: Today, power often lies in
technology, information, and influence rather than brute strength. Yet, in
crises, primal instincts—fear, dominance, survival—still surface.
Leadership,
therefore, is the channel through which power is expressed. In animals, it is
instinctive and immediate; in humans, it is reflective and institutional. But
in both, it remains rooted in the same primal drive.
Toward Higher Evolution
In
essence, animals and humans share the same root instincts. What has changed
over millennia is not the drives themselves, but the forms they take. In
animals, this is seen in evolving strategies of survival, while in humans it is
reflected in the creation of civilisation, institutions, and visions of
transcendence.
The
true evolution of leadership lies in transforming instincts—turning survival
into service, power into vision, and sexuality into love and respect. In this transformation, humanity may rise to a higher form of
evolution, making life richer, more compassionate, and more meaningful.
Dr. Mahendra Ingale @ Pune, March 27,
2026
#ValueBasedLeadership #EngineeringHeartBeats
