A poem by Bob Vanourek Summarizing Great Leadership
Bob reading excerpts at his book launch in Vail“To Lead Well”
by Bob Vanourek
I’ll start within,
Cultivating quality character,
Acting with integrity,
Listening with my heart,
Composed amid chaos,
A soul flooding forth with love.
I’ll reach out,
Caring and connecting,
Serving,
Engendering trust,
Building relationships,
Unleashing others who soar.
I’ll step up,
Saying “Yes,”
Choosing wisely,
Embracing change,
Striving for what’s right,
Pursuing our dreams.
I’ll leave a legacy,
A team of partners,
Companions with courage and character,
Leading and following,
Creators of worthy deeds,
Together undaunted.
I wrote this poem at the urging of son, Gregg, who thought it would be a fitting close for my latest book, Leadership Wisdom: Lessons from Poetry, Prose, and Curious Verse. The poem traces the themes of the major sections of the book:
• Leading yourself first
• Leading others
• Leaving a leadership legacy
On a whim, I submitted it to the Festival for Poetry and recently was humbled to learn that the poem has been cited as “one of the best inspirational/motivational [poems] from the last 18 months.”
Perhaps you’ll find some inspiration in it too? I hope so.
Bob Vanourek is the former CEO of five firms and has served on eleven boards. He is the co-author with Gregg Vanourek of Triple Crown Leadership: Building Excellent, Ethical, and Enduring Organizations, a 2013 winner of the International Book Awards. His latest book is Leadership Wisdom: Lessons from Poetry, Prose, and Curious Verse. To get Gregg’s manifesto on Leadership Derailers (and how to avoid them) and free book chapters from Gregg’s books, including Triple Crown Leadership, check out his Free Guide.
