Recently I came across a book ‘Tales for Trainers’ by Margaret Parkin. I enjoyed the way she has explained the power of using stories, metaphors, anecdotes, and poetry in training and development. We really, sometimes, underestimate the power of fun and drama in learning just because we have grown up. Do you remember how did you learn alphabets? Well think about it and you will know or else if you have kids you will definitely related to that.
Anyway, there is a tale in this book which I will put in this article today. It is an older tale but really interesting to send the message to the audience about Ledership,
An old man planted a turnip. The turnip grew to be enormous. The old man started to pull the turnip out of the ground. He pulled and pulled, but couldn’t pull it out. So he called over the old woman.
The old woman took hold of the old man, the old man took hold of the turnip, they pulled and pulled, but couldn’t pull it out. So the old woman called over the granddaughter.
The granddaughter took hold of the old woman, the old woman took hold of the old man, the old man took hold of the turnip, they pulled and pulled, but couldn’t pull it out. So the granddaughter called over the dog.
The dog took hold of the granddaughter, the granddaughter took hold of the old woman, the old woman took hold of the old man, the old man took hold of the turnip, they pulled and pulled, but couldn’t pull it out. So the dog called over the cat.
The cat took hold of the dog, the dog took hold of the granddaughter, the granddaughter took hold of the old woman, the old woman took hold of the old man, the old man took hold of the turnip, they pulled and pulled, but couldn’t pull it out. So the cat called over the mouse.
‘The MOUSE?!’ the others exclaimed, ‘what good will he do… he is so small’
Nevertheless, the cat called the mouse.
The mouse took hold of the cat, the cat took hold of the dog, the dog took hold of the granddaughter, the granddaughter took hold of the old woman, the old woman took hold of the old man, the old man took hold of the turnip, they pulled and pulled–and finally–out came the turnip!
Moral:
Do you have any ‘Mice’ on your team? If so, never underestimate them. It may be that their weight is just enough to tip the balance.