Last month, I wrote an article on the story ‘The Enormous Turnip’. The moral of the story was not to underestimate anybody in your team. I revisited that story again this month with a fresh look. At first, I clearly missed this perspective. However, when I revisited it struck my hollow brain like a bell, ding!!!!!
The focus of the story was on the Mouse. As a leader not to underestimate any ‘Mice’ in your team. Did you notice the action of the Cat? Well, allow me to remind you the part of the story:
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!
Again, did you notice what Cat did?
Moral: It takes courage to believe in your actions and stand your ground. Sometimes it is easier to give up and go with the flow of the rest. Leaders believe in their ‘Mice’ and at the same time, they also believe in their actions.