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- The blind men and the elephant
Have you ever heard the story of the blind men and the elephant?
A group of blind men heard that a strange animal, called an elephant, had been brought to the town, but none of them were aware of its shape and form. Out of curiosity, they said: "We must inspect and know it by touch, of which we are capable". So, they sought it out, and when they found it they groped about it. The first person, whose hand landed on the trunk, said, "This being is like a thick snake". For another one whose hand reached its ear, it seemed like a kind of fan. As for another person, whose hand was upon its leg, said, the elephant is a pillar like a tree-trunk. The blind man who placed his hand upon its side said the elephant, "is a wall". Another who felt its tail, described it as a rope. The last felt its tusk, stating the elephant is that which is hard, smooth and like a spear.
How does this relate to captainship and getting people unblocked?
When we are close to a problem, it is hard to see it entirely and figure out what it is.
This is true for us but also for people in our captainship circle. As a captain, we are often a little more distant from our crew’s problems, which allows us to see them more clearly and identify them correctly.
When one of the people in our captainship circle is stuck up against a problem, sharing this perspective can help them realize that what they thought was a snake, a spear, a rope, or a tree is actually an elephant.
Once people know what problem they are up against, they can select the most appropriate tool to overcome it and continue to make progress toward their goals.
Helping people see what is blocking them and what problem they are up against is one of the most powerful things you can do as a captain.
-Ale
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