皇帝遇到了具有真同理心的下属
2022-10-06
Young, Indi. Practical empathy: For collaboration and creativity in your work. Rosenfeld Media, 2015.
有中文版本。
这个中国故事是在外文书上看到的。至于在中国的什么书上有记载，待查。
不过确实发人深省：
秀的是理解，而非能力
Exhibit Understanding
Instead of Competence
Here is a story about an emperor in ancient China. He attracted many
people to his court who wanted to share the distinction of shaping
the future of the land. These court members vied for the emperor’s
attention, competing with each other to suggest more magnificent
ideas and, incidentally, to bring trade and projects to the people who
were his friends outside of court. The emperor bestowed his con-
sideration on one after another court member, intrigued with each
person’s idea because it matched his desires precisely and seemed
so clear and risk-free. But either the idea produced disappointing
results, or the court member would be defamed by others before the
idea came to fruition.
One member did not present any ideas to the emperor. Others chided
him for his lack of inventiveness and warned that he would soon lose
his position. Instead, he sat and listened to the emperor talk about
the prosperity of his people and the increase in production from the
land. One afternoon, the court and the emperor were discussing a
project to build a structure that would reach into the heavens, taller
than any other building in the land. Court members were arguing
about how to engineer the foundation and how they might build each
level to support the next. To the surprise of everybody in the room,
the quiet member spoke up.
“The purpose of this building is to allow the emperor to be closer to
the heavens?” Yes, everyone agreed; the purpose is to symbolize the
glory and wisdom of the emperor.
“The purpose is to build a structure that will demonstrate the
wisdom of the emperor?” The emperor gazed fixedly at the member and nodded.
The member continued, “The emperor’s wisdom has provided a
fertile land for his people, who grow in numbers. Let him extend
the lands which are fertile and increase the magnitude of trade by
constructing the largest canal and reservoir system for irrigation and
transportation.”
The room was silent, shocked by the mundane idea. But a smile spread
slowly across the face of the emperor as he thought through what the
idea would mean for the prosperity of his people. He pointed to the
member and said, “This is what we will build instead.”
Within all sorts of organizations, many people are thinking, “I want
a seat at the table so I can tell the leaders what they should really
be doing.” With an empathetic mindset, you let go of that need to
change others or to demonstrate your competence. Instead, you listen for the deeper reasoning and philosophies within other people. Together, you explore these deeper currents and work out better solutions. Because you’ve formed an unequivocal understanding of purpose, the results are more likely to be marvelous.
具有真同理心的下属，愿意去认真倾听，理解皇帝的真实想法，他深知这一切是为了“The purpose is to build a structure that will demonstrate the
wisdom of the emperor?” 即，为了向天下人彰显皇上的智慧。因此，他建议皇帝兴修水利，开挖大运河，建造大水库，浇灌更多的良田，促进更多的贸易往来。(Let him extend the lands which are fertile and increase the magnitude of trade by constructing the largest canal and reservoir system for irrigation and transportation.)
