If You Will Lead

“Rudyard Kipling as Leadership Guru”

Rudyard Kipling was born in 1865 to English expatriates living in Bombay, India. At age 24, he moved to England, where he gained literary success, prosperity and acclaim for his poetry, short stories and books. Kipling won the Nobel Prize in 1907 and published “If–” in 1910. He hobnobbed with many of his era’s political, literary and social leaders. Kipling continued to write until his death at age 70 in 1936.

Using Kipling’s Classic Poem “If–” as a Leadership Model

Exercising excellent leadership requires the fortitude to accept the challenges of being in charge. Kipling cautioned that “leadership is not about attaining perfection,” but instead committing to greater awareness and better choices. His poem “If–” defines 16 leadership traits that make up “the If Sixteen Leadership Framework.” It cites four defining areas:

• “Knowing who you are and what you believe.”
• “Knowing what you want.”
• “Attracting others and motivating them to follow.”
• “Earning and retaining the privilege to lead.”

The lives of 16 famous leaders illustrate the leadership attributes highlighted in “If–.” ...