THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY

Tammy Morin Nakashima

A Balance of Power

The headlines scream, “BC has first minority government in 65 years. BC Greens hold balance of power”

(Laura Kane, Canadian Press News, May 9, 2017)

Following our recent provincial election, a new catch phrase in British Columbia is emerging—“Balance of Power.”

Essentially, BC has not faced this concern in 65 years—virtually a lifetime. And we are not alone in tuning our sensors to that reality. Our southern neighbours are seeing it in their headlines, too. Bloomberg Politics announces,

BALANCE OF POWER, TRUMP

ALONE: President Donald Trump’s decision to abandon the Paris climate accord touched off a furious and immediate backlash, igniting condemnation from

C-suites and capitals around the world. But one man was left a clear winner. China’s President

Xi Jinping now has another opportunity to burnish his country’s image as a clean-energy innovator and global champion in fighting climate change. Not a bad spot for the world’s No. 1 polluter.

Innis L. Claude Jr. states, “The trouble with Balance of Power is not that it has no meaning, but that it has too many meanings.” I agree.

Wikipedia explains it this way. “Balance of power may refer to Balance of power (international relations), parity, or stability between competing forces. Balance of power (federalism), distribution of power between a central government and its subnational governments.”

On a personal level, if you hold the balance of power, you have a responsibility to be apprised of facts and current issues and to be insightful and also mindful that your decisions impact the lives of those who depend on you.

And COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers, explains, “1. The balance of power is the way in which power is distributed between rival groups or countries. If a small political party holds the balance of power in a government, it is able to give a larger party a majority by supporting this larger party.”

Now take a moment to ponder what Balance of Power means to you. • Does it conjure fear or excitement or potential? • Do you view it on a political scale?

A global context? Corporately? Do you apply it on a more personal level?

How do you define it?

Balance of power can be exciting—challenging, if you will. In a business context, an employer has a duty of care to ensure balance among employees. In fact, that is essential to a well-functioning office.

On a personal level, if you hold the balance of power, you have a responsibility to be apprised of facts and current issues and to be insightful and also mindful that your decisions impact the lives of those who depend on you.

Politicians wielding the balance of power need to evaluate not only their party ideals and the promises made to constituents and—long after the election—the short and the longterm effects their compromises will have.

In this moment in time—this making of history framed by a balance of power—a voice not usually heard above the crowd is now the whispering, commanding voice in the room. An elephant-and-mouse scenario.

I can’t help but think of The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia. Although we may be viewed as few in number, we are impactful through our strength of engagement, locally and globally, by being informed, connected, concerned, and active.

Managed correctly, the balancing of power will bring success and satisfaction in business, at home, and in government. s