What Do You See?

In a Jain parable, six blind men were asked to determine what an elephant looked like by feeling different parts of the elephant’s body. The blind man who feels a leg says the elephant is like a pillar; the one who feels the tail says the elephant is like a rope; the one who feels the trunk says the elephant is like a tree branch; the one who feels the ear says the elephant is like a hand fan; the one who feels the belly says the elephant is like a wall; and the one who feels the tusk says the elephant is like a solid pipe.

A king explains to them:

All of you are right. The reason every one of you is telling it differently is because each one of you touched the different part of the elephant. So, actually the elephant has all the features you mentioned.

Just like the blind men, we think about and describe our community from different perspectives. We are all right, but together we have the whole “elephant.” Some similar parables describe the blind men arguing about who is right. These types of arguments still happen today. How do we engage in crucial conversations when the stakes are higher than describing the elephant in the room? How do we listen to understand instead of listening to respond? If you want to add some crucial conversation tools to your leadership toolbox, save the date for April 27, 2017, from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. for our next Alumni Education event.

Ask any alumni and they will tell you Leadership Medina County’s Signature program brings together Medina County perspectives, needs, and opportunities. It’s the year that will change your life. Signature Program applications are open now until April 28.

Keep learning and leading,
Colleen Rice
Executive Director

P.S. Coming soon! We will be launching a new membership directory and website.