Are you missing the real "Bottom Line?"

John O'Donohue's "For A Leader" reveals a different truth

Back in my business school days, our curriculum was a relentless barrage of metrics, production efficiencies, and the sacred bottom line. While many of our wise, battle-hardened professors preached the gospel of “people,” the majority of my ambitious classmates treated classes like Organizational Behavior and Business Communications as annoying "check-the-box" requirements. Me? I was actually quite intrigued by the squishy human stuff, much to the amusement of my peers who were already drafting their M&A strategies on cocktail napkins. Most of those future titans of industry scoffed. "Fluff!" they'd declare before diving back into their financial models.

Fast forward a few years, and guess who started calling me? These same classmates, now running companies and discovering that their perfectly optimized spreadsheets didn't offer a single coherent answer when a key employee quit or a team imploded. The "fluff," as one newly humbled CEO recently confessed, was suddenly "the stuff." Turns out, when you're actually leading people in a world that feels like it's constantly reinventing itself – often without asking for our permission – empathy, connection, and personal growth aren't just nice-to-haves; they're critical. And honestly, sometimes we leaders need a little hand-holding ourselves to cultivate this kinder, gentler approach.

With this in mind, I recently revisited Irish poet and philosopher John O'Donohue's poem, "For A Leader." And let me tell you, it hit me like a ton of bricks – the good kind, the kind that builds something beautiful. O'Donohue offers a profound and, frankly, timely counter-narrative. He challenges us to ditch the idea of leadership as just "command and control" and instead embrace it as a way of life, a continuous journey of self-cultivation, empathy, and service. He points to those often-overlooked inner virtues that don't show up on a quarterly report but make all the difference.

The poem gently reminds us that true leaders don't put themselves on a pedestal. Instead, they operate from a place of genuine commitment to others, fostering collaboration and respect. Think less "benevolent dictator" and more "really good listener who brings out the best in everyone." O'Donohue champions presence and deep listening, ensuring those around us feel truly seen and valued. He suggests that when people mess up (because, you know, we're human), we should engage with graciousness, transforming those missteps into chances for renewal and refinement. He also nudges leaders to treasure the gifts of the mind, urging us to be "servants of the frontier" – constantly learning and thinking creatively. Ultimately, O'Donohue paints leadership as a transformative "adventure of growth" – a beautiful blend of humility, service, intellectual curiosity, and the courage to foster positive change.

I encourage you to read John O'Donohue's "For A Leader" yourself. It's a vision that suggests the real "bottom line" might just be how well we connect with and uplift the humans around us.

"For A Leader" by John O'Donohue

May you have the grace and wisdom
To act kindly, learning
To distinguish between what is
Personal and what is not.

May you be hospitable to criticism.
May you never put yourself at the center of things.
May you act not from arrogance but out of service.

May you work on yourself, 
Building up and refining the ways of your mind.

May those who work for you know
You see and respect them.

May you learn to cultivate the art of presence
In order to engage with those who meet you.

When someone fails or disappoints you,
May the graciousness with which you engage
Be their stairway to renewal and refinement.

May you treasure the gifts of the mind
Through reading and creative thinking
So that you continue as a servant of the frontier
Where the new will draw its enrichment from the old,
And may you never become a functionary.

May you know the wisdom of deep listening,
The healing of wholesome words,
The encouragement of the appreciative gaze,
The decorum of held dignity,
The springtime edge of the bleak question.

May you have a mind that loves frontiers
So that you can evoke the bright fields
That lie beyond the view of the regular eye.

May you have good friends
To mirror your blind spots.

May leadership be for you
A true adventure of growth.

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About John O'Donohue: John O'Donohue (1956–2008) was an Irish poet, philosopher, and theologian. Known for his profound spiritual insights and eloquent writing, he blended Celtic mysticism with a deep understanding of human experience. His work often explored themes of beauty, belonging, blessing, and the sacredness of everyday life. He authored several best-selling books, including Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom and To Bless the Space Between Us.

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An Invitation to Lead Differently

Leadership Outside the Box is dedicated to exploring the next wave of leadership, fostering out-of-the-box, future-focused thinking for leaders at every level. Through columns, interviews, videos, and real-time observations, I hope to spark your insight, challenge assumptions, and support your growth in the art and science of leadership. As the founder of Story Board Advisors, and having had the privilege of working for decades as a CEO, board director, executive coach, university faculty, and writer, I've learned to combine strategic insight with creative storytelling. Through Leadership Outside the Box, my goal is to help you think differently, lead intentionally, and think about what is ahead, so you can truly make a difference in the world.

I invite you to read along and share your views. You can reach me at suzanna@storyboardadvisors.com.

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