Leading by Looking Back

Conventional wisdom teaches that leadership is about looking forward. We are all taught that leading means creating a compelling vision for the future and inspiring others to follow us into that future. While I fundamentally share this view, I believe the past plays a critical role in how we lead. Leaders must be able to look back. We must learn lessons from our own experiences and from the experiences of those who came before us.

Philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” His words are especially true in the context of leadership. Either we can learn from the past, or we can continue to commit the same blunders. Many leadership “experts” argue that the problems and challenges facing today’s leaders require new leadership attributes. I contend that the attributes never change. How we use them may change, but the attributes remain constant.

[wcm_restrict]I am always amazed at the diverse resources from which we can learn. One such resource is Rudyard Kipling’s poem, ‘If-.’ Kipling wrote ‘If-’ in 1895. He described in the poem sixteen essential leadership attributes. While Kipling’s ‘If-’ doesn’t provide a perfect list of all of the attributes of leadership, it does provide leaders a place to start their journey. Within its thirty-two lines and 288 words, Kipling packed powerful lessons. ‘If-’ directs us to know ourselves and what we believe. It encourages us to see things that others can’t or won’t. It challenges us to motivate others to attempt things they think are impossible. It dares us to dream big and work to attain our dreams. The most important lesson the poem teaches is having the boldness and courage to step up and lead.

The poem speaks for itself and reveals enduring wisdom.

So, what leadership advice could a 21st-century leader possibly get (or want) from a 19th-century poem – especially one written by a poet who is most remembered for his children’s stories? What can an Information Age leader learn from a Victorian Age poem?

It provides committed leaders with a framework on which to build our leadership careers. The poem is not a checklist that will guarantee success for an aspiring leader. There is no silver bullet for successful leadership. Rather, ‘If-’ describes a path we may choose to follow to become a better leader. It can guide us along this path. ‘If-’ has remained a compelling leadership guide for more than 100 years. It is simply written and easy to read and understand. Most importantly, the messages are direct and powerful.

This article is dedicated to connecting today’s problems with similar challenges from history. I will attempt to reveal the enduring wisdom from historical events, so today’s leaders can apply this wisdom to deliver superior results.[/wcm_restrict][wcm_nonmember]

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About the Author

Doug Moran has more than twenty-five years of leadership experience in a variety of industries. Doug is the author of the forthcoming book, If You Will Lead: Enduring Wisdom for 21st-Century Leaders. He founded IF YOU WILL LEAD, LLC to help leaders and organizations reach their fullest potential. The firm focuses on leadership development, organization excellence and information technology. His book, speaking, and consulting leverage the power of story-telling and enduring wisdom to help leaders and their organizations excel and grow.