Hello   

Poetry adds to the stock of available reality.

I heard this quote while listening to an interview on NPR this past weekend.  I was immediately drawn to it. I liked the way it expressed optimism and possibility. The thought of a 'stock of available reality' is compelling to me.

I wrote it down, repeated it in my head a few times, thought about it, and then did some research to learn more about who said it and why. It is attributed to critic R.P. Blackmur in 1935 and is an abbreviated version of the following statement:

Poetry not only expresses the matter in hand, it adds to the stock of available reality.

According to Blackmur, "poems of any kind represent visceral learning: they are about deep inward beliefs, feelings, and experiences. They speak to the power of 'standing up in one's own life and encourage us through the profound collective power of our shared reflections. In this way they inform our own best vision of ourselves and our possibilities."

As I reflected on this, I could see the way in which the very same quote can be used to articulate the difference between good leadership and great leadership.

Good leadership express the matter in hand: 

In other words, good leaders get to the heart of the matter with facts and quickly quiet down the 'noise' of distractions bringing clarity to what is so.

Great leadership adds to the stock of available reality: 

In other words, from a foundation of facts, great leaders round them out with things like context, perspective, vision, and inspiration. By doing so, they open up paths of possibilities to move forward. Using their words, actions, passion, talents, and drive...great leaders trigger possibility thinking which brings out the best versions of self in every member of the team.

Consider this poetry-leadership comparison and look at the way in which the great leader adds to the stock of available reality:

A good leader might say: 

Strategic Partnerships are important for our business, they matter.  

A great leader might say:

When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don't stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven't hoed,
And shout from where I am, What is it?
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit

*(A Time to Talk, by Robert Frost)

Can you see the increased available stock of reality in the poem?  Does it not bring more depth, texture, and direction to the topic of managing a strategic partnership than the first example?   

This week, consider embracing this mantra as you are approaching challenges and see what unfolds: 

Great leadership adds to the

Greetings!  

email: mmalinchok@verizon.net