Tuesday 20 March 2007

Let me tell you a story.....

 

I recently attended a wonderful story telling day at Oxford Brookes University. Lots of practical ideas and ways of bringing stories to life. Its always a tricky one advising Exec's on how to communicate a difficult message. But simple, humorous and insightful stories can be very powerful and memorable. The Wise Fools Guide to Leadership is wonderful and I defy anyone to read it and not have a smile on their face.

This is the blurb: Nasrudin is the archetypal wise fool, who lived in the Middle East over 600 years ago, though his stories have traveled the world and been updated in every generation. Peter Hawkins has given a modern spin to 84 of these stories by turning Nasrudin into a management consultant. Simple truths are told in a straightforward and highly entertaining way.

The chapter on Unlearning: unknowing says;

As an early Sufi poet wrote: " Knowledge without wisdom is like an unlit candle". True learning ultimately involves lighting the wick and setting fire to what we think we know. Nasrudin is a useful arsonist. 

So potentially some challenging content for your next presentation. Dont forget to take a peek at the short flash Video ( the animation is as cool as the message is profound)