In both organizations and relationships, diversity should be celebrated. Our differences make us special.
As the heart-shaped decorations come down and discounted chocolate boxes fill store shelves, I find myself reflecting on another Valentine’s Day. You might expect love advice from relationship experts, couples married for decades, or at least someone with extensive dating experience. Instead, you’re getting it from me—a management professor who’s been single since birth.
But hear me out: my solo status might just make me the perfect person to analyze love through an academic lens. Although my current relationship status might not scream “love expert,” my background in organizational behavior and sustainability has given me some interesting thoughts about matters of the heart.
After all, I’ve noticed striking parallels between managing successful businesses and maintaining healthy relationships. Let me share some post-Valentine’s reflections that combine management wisdom with relationship insights—because love, like any good business strategy, deserves thoughtful analysis.
First of all, let’s talk about “sustainable love practices.” Just as businesses need sustainable strategies to thrive, relationships require renewable emotional resources. My research focuses on how organizations can create lasting positive impact—and although I might not have personal experience with romantic partnerships, I understand that love, like any sustainable system, needs proper resource management. Remember, sustainable means to maintain. You can’t keep withdrawing from the emotional bank account without making deposits.
Consider workplace dynamics: successful teams grow on clear communication, mutual respect, and shared goals. The same principles apply to romantic relationships. As someone who observes these patterns from an academically safe distance, couples who treat their relationship like a well-managed partnership often fare better than those who run it like a dictatorship.
Here’s where my opinion on inclusion becomes relevant. In both organizations and relationships, diversity should be celebrated. Our differences make us special. When your partner sees things differently, take it as a gift. It’s like having your own personal coach who not only challenges you to grow but does so because they care deeply about your happiness. The most vibrant relationships are those where partners don’t just accept their differences but actually celebrate how those differences make them stronger together.
Speaking of well-being (SDG 3), let’s discuss work-life balance. Just as organizations need to ensure their employees’ welfare, relationships require attention to each partner’s mental and emotional health. Couples who prioritize each other’s well-being as they maintain healthy boundaries tend to have more sustainable relationships.
Gender equality (SDG 5) is also essential for healthy relationships. In organizational behavior, I’ve seen how equal partnerships outperform hierarchical structures. The same, I believe, applies to romantic relationships. Relationships based on mutual respect and equality are more likely to succeed.
Technology (another area I research) also plays a fascinating role in modern relationships. Just as businesses need digital transformation strategies, couples need to go through the complexities of social media, dating apps, and digital communication. Although technology should enhance human connection, it shouldn’t replace genuine interaction—a lesson many of us learned during those endless virtual Valentine’s dates of the pandemic era.
Let’s talk about partnerships (SDG 17). In business, successful partnerships require clear objectives, open communication, and mutual benefits. Similarly, lasting relationships need shared goals and values. My extensive experience in being single has taught me that it is better to wait for the right partnership than to rush into a merger with misaligned values.
And speaking of organizational behavior, here’s a management principle that applies perfectly to relationships: the importance of performance reviews. Regular check-ins and feedback are important for professional and personal growth. Though I haven’t had the opportunity to implement this personally (yet), couples who regularly evaluate and discuss their relationship tend to build stronger, more resilient bonds.
For those wondering about my qualifications to give relationship advice, consider this: sometimes the best football commentators never played professionally, and the most insightful restaurant critics aren’t chefs. My singleness has given me a unique perspective—like a scientist observing a fascinating phenomenon from behind a protective glass.
As someone who studies sustainability, I’ve learned that the most valuable relationships, like successful organizations, aren’t built overnight. They require patience, strategy, and continuous improvement. Although this Valentine’s Day has passed, these principles remain relevant year-round.
So, whether you’re in a relationship or still searching for that special someone (like yours truly), remember that love, like good management, is about creating “sustainable value” over time.
The author, when not applying management principles to matters of the heart, can be found optimistically swiping right about future relationship prospects somewhere at a safe, single distance. He believes that love, like good research, requires rigorous analysis and an open heart. He maintains that his relationship status is simply an extended study in sustainable independence. He can be reached at adrian.mabalay@dlsu.edu.ph.
The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU.