Leadership Lessons from Robert Frost's Classic Poem, 'The Road Not Taken'

Last month, I launched my new monthly series to extract leadership lessons from literary works. Why bother to do this? I agree with John Baldoni when he says: "Reading great literature provides us with a window into the human experience, and it is through this window that we can learn valuable lessons about leadership.” Great literature also teaches us about the transformative power of language. It's not an accident that at pivotal moments in history world leaders often reach into literature, especially poetry, to find the precision they need to meet the moment.

This month, I’d like to share with you some leadership lessons from one of my personal favourite poems "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. "The Road Not Taken" is one of the most well-known and loved poems in world literature. Its message is about the importance of taking a unique path in life. It can inspire our approach to everyday living and offers valuable lessons for us as leaders.

Firstly, "The Road Not Taken" reminds us of the value of individuality. As a leader, it’s easy to conform and run with the pack, but Frost encourages us not be afraid to take a different approach. Charting our own course or taking a route that fewer people pursue in their career, business, or industry can open up future avenues that we could not have imagined possible. From my own experience, founding a company, and developing our Theatre of Leadership approach, seemed daunting at first but soon became an irresistible challenge and an exhilarating adventure.

Secondly, the poem teaches us the importance of making bold decisions even when we can't be sure where they will lead. The speaker in the poem chooses to take the path less travelled and claims that it has made all the difference in his life. We know that every pace-setting leader faces hard decisions, tough choices, and significant risks - every day. To meet this challenge, leaders need to back their judgement, take calculate risks, and not lose their resolve or dwell on the past too much. If we do these things we may learn, like the protagonist in this poem, that taking the road less travelled can put us on a route that's less crowded. It can set us apart from others, and transform our life and the lives of people we lead.

Thirdly, the poem hints at the dangers of indecision. The speaker in the poem spends some time considering the two pathways they see in front of them. Frost captures the moment of indecision. The reader feels the tension as pro's and con's are weighed up. The protagonist could miss out on a life-changing opportunity. In fact, Frost wrote this poem as a light-hearted gift to his dear friend and walking partner. On their regular walks, his friend always had trouble deciding which path to take. Then, having made his choice, would spend the rest of the walk wondering about what he may have missed by not taking the other route. The lessons on offer here are to be decisive and not to spend too much time second-guessing ourselves or over analyzing every possible outcome for choices we make. Having made our choice, Frost would advise us to look forward without regret, be present in our chosen journey, keep observant, and make the most of the pathway we are on.

Fourthly, "The Road Not Taken" teaches us the value of hindsight. In the poem, the protagonist is looking back, processing his past actions. This is no superficial reflection. He gives a detailed account of his decision-making process. It reminds me of a line from another poem which encourages us to take the time to 'sit at the feet of our own wisdom and learn'. The wisdom we gain from hindsight can embolden us, grow our courage and dampen our fear of new or novel approaches. 

Lastly, the poem teaches us about language and effective storytelling. It demonstrates the power of using simple, descriptive, well edited words. Frost's use of rhythm, alliteration and assonance coupled with well-selected imagery and a tight story form create a musical quality that enhances the literal meaning and mood of the poem. In this short poem, Robert Frost's shows us how these techniques can be the vehicles that bring home an idea to an audience in a compelling way. They elevate the poem’s point and impact.

I encourage you to read this poem. Speak it out loud to allow the power of the words to do their work. Let it weave its magic. It comes to life through the spoken word.  

In summary, the leadership lessons from "The Road Not Taken" remind us to make bold decisions, embrace our individuality, avoid indecision, reflect on our past experiences to draw wisdom from them, and don't be afraid to forge a path less travelled - it could make ‘all the difference’. It's point is elevated by how it sounds and its imagery.

You may be interested to know that Frost's friend didn't see the poem as a joke. He rightly predicted that it would be taken seriously, resonate with many, and be one of Frost's best. 

Which of the lessons from "The Road Not Taken" resonates the most with you? Are there other lessons from this poem you'd like to share with us in comments?

If you missed last month's blog here's the link:  https://www.theatreofleadership.com/blog/2. 

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