Leaders Need Poetry. Here's Why...

“Put down the weight of your aloneness, and ease into the conversation” 

– this is what acclaimed Irish Poet, David Whyte, writes in his poem ‘Everything is Waiting for You’. And if you don’t know David Whyte, you really should. And if you’re not turning to poetry for clarity, sensibility and perspective, you should. If you’re a business owner, you should. If you’re a leader of leaders and of children and of nations, you should. 

Poetry is so much more than just a form of artistic expression, it’s a secret text that holds its own in a room full of hard knocks, naysayers and influence. Ancient healers and leaders would turn to poetry for guidance, before they turned to prayer. Once upon a time, it was the poets that were consulted by kings and priests to gain better judgement. Why then should we be searching for the answers anywhere else, but in the salve of poetry? Poets like Whyte, Rumi, Oliver, Gibran and Angelou hold the key to human capacity in their texts. At Room 206, we believe in the sovereignty of poetry, as a leader’s guide to greater leadership.

Here’s why:  

1.      Poetry helps us express our truest work

Poetry facilitates expression in both a personal, and a professional context, giving us the courage and the permission to own our truth, while giving others the gift of confidence they need to express their own.

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”

Rumi, Moving Water

2.      Poetry is a tool for resilience.

Resilience is imperative to weathering the highs and lows of life and business – and poetry helps us get into the bones of this. By reading about the struggles of others, as well as their triumphs, in the poetic form, we gain deeper insight into the trials and tribulations of being human, as well as the perspective and inspiration we need to know we can overcome whatever we need to.

“You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.”

Maya Angelou, Still I Rise

3.      Poetry delivers Consciousness and self-reflection

Poetry encourages conscious leadership. In our ability to self-reflect, we become aware of our perspective in a room full of many personalities. A single poem can call on us to be present in the moment, and to pay attention to our people in the room. Poetry removes the blind spots, so we can see again.

“The night will give you a horizon further than you can see. You must learn one thing. The world was made to be free in. Give up all the other worlds except the one to which you belong.”

David Whyte, Darkness

4.      Poetry can heal the Broken team

Have you ever tried to read a piece of poetry at the start or end of your morning meeting? For the broken, downtrodden or misplaced team, poetry can be a great healer. Poetry has a rhythmical quality, which allows the words to vibrate at a deeper frequency. This resonance or vibration has a healing effect on the mind and body, by working with the amygdala of the brain, which is responsible for processing emotion. When we read or hear poetry, it activates our senses as a powerful emotional response, that can repair a broken universe – even on a Monday.   

“Fill each other's cup, but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread, but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone.”

Khalil Gibran, On Marriage

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