If…a word small in size but large in promise and possibility. It also happens to be the title of my favorite poem, written by author and poet, Rudyard Kipling. As suggested by its title, the poem is about what can be possible, and if pondered thoughtfully, can serve as blueprint for leadership. Some may say that leaders are born, not made, but I think this poem suggests otherwise. It is my belief that leaders create themselves in the moments when they are tried the hardest. I will now recite the poem in its entirety and share with you what it has taught me.
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be made tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, not give way to lies.
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise.
If you can dream, and not make dreams your master;
If you can think and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear the truth you have spoken
Twisted by knaves as a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em with worn-out tools;
If you can make a heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch and toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the will which says to them “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings nor lose the common touch:
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and all that’s in it,
And what’s more, you’ll be a man, my son.
What can this poem teach us about leadership? It illustrates the actions and character traits found in great leaders. For example: “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting, too.”’ A leader must be calm, confident, courageous, and competent. A calm leader will not act rashly. It takes confidence and courage to act decisively, and a competent leader will know the best path forward.
A leader is patient and knows how to influence people. “If you can wait and not be made tired by waiting, or being lied about, not give way to lies. Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, and yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise.” Leaders must find a way to lead those may disagree with them or outright dislike them. It can take patience and time to build trust in those who oppose you, and this trust is won not through an air of superiority but through finding common ground.
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same” A leader takes the appropriate action regardless of the outcome. Triumph is no excuse to rest; disaster no excuse to give up.
“If you can make a heap of all your winnings and risk it on one turn of pitch and toss, and lose and start again at your beginnings and never breath a word about your loss”. A leader is not afraid to take risks, but even if the outcome is unfavorable, will find away to recover from the loss.
“If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew to serve your turn long after they are gone and hold on when there is nothing in you except the will which says to them “Hold on!” Leaders persevere. Calvin Coolidge once said that nothing takes the place of perseverance. Not talent. Not genius. Perseverance is omnipotent.
“If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run, yours is the Earth and all that’s in it, and what’s more, you’ll be a man, my son”. Leaders are industrious. They know that time is their most valuable asset and waste it not. Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “The reason I beat the Austrians was they did not know the value of five minutes”. Leaders conquer their world and more importantly themselves. They then may partake of the Earth and all that is in it, a world of endless possibilities, for those who would lead themselves and others.