In our busy world today we often have so many demands placed upon us from all aspects in our life. Simply to survive we take the shortest path to the quickest and easiest solutions to our problems and often the right thing to do is whatever is quick and easy. There are times though that require a different approach, and one of those is when we are guiding, coaching or mentoring those who look to us for direction.
We often think that telling people exactly what to do is the best way to get a job done, sometimes we even check every step of the way just to make sure it’s done right because we are responsible for the outcome. Well maybe on occasions there are other approaches we can consider, and one such approach can be understood through this very old yet simple little story.
“The thief and his son”
One day and an old thief led his son into a mansion and instructed him to go into a walk-in closet to steal some clothes. As soon as the son went into the closet, the father closed the door and locked him in. He then ran through the hallway banging on doors and walls, making a loud racket before fleeing into the night.
“The residents got up, looked around and realized that there might still be a thief in the house. They banded together, lit a candle, and started searching room by room.
“The son, still trapped in the closet, was in a bad situation. Out of desperation, he made mouse noises, which attracted the searchers’ attention. The master of the mansion ordered his servant to unlock the closet. The young man sprang out, blew out the candle, pushed the servant aside, and ran for his life. The residents regrouped and gave angry pursuit.
“The young man couldn’t shake them, but suddenly he saw a well up ahead and got an idea. He pushed a large rock into the well, and ran in a different direction. The residents heard the loud splash, assumed he fell in or jumped in the well, and went looking for him there.
“Thanks to this ploy, the young man was able to get away cleanly. He returned home to tell his father what happened. After he completed his report, his father said, ‘You’re ready to be a thief now.’”
So, what was the point of the story?
For me I guess the main point is that ultimately, whether you are a parent, a leader a coach or a mentor there are many things you can’t teach, but must let each person grasp individually. Our children, or employees are like the young man in this story, and leaders are like the father. A great leader will provide a certain amount of guidance, simply setting the direction for others to follow.
In the process of leading others to discover for themselves though, there is often a certain amount of pain or at the very least frustration experienced by those who are learning.
That pain always disappears at the moment of “insight”, that golden “eureka” moment when new learning is understood, and is immediately replaced by a feeling far more intense that the original feeling of pain or frustration.
In the context of our story today, personal breakthroughs leading to personal insight, is all about qualifying to be a thief… which, in turn, means taking another step toward becoming a true master of what ever it is you do.
Daryl Pedder
Learning Facilitator
Insight International Consultancy Pty Ltd
