A story to be Optimistic or Realistic ?

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The Vice President had lost his audience mid way of his speech with a montonous and uninterested content. Noticing this the Managing Director of company who was next to address the employee at the half yearly event wanted to get back the audience. So he started with an aggressive start.
"Good morning my dear colleagues, i am sure the canteen services have improved and we get the best food here. I see that in all your eyes." Sarcastically started the MD. 

"As many employees here are future leaders, let me start this speech with a short story. There were a group of young soldiers who were lost in peaks of Alps, Swiss. It was getting dark and they wanted to get back to their base camp. A young soldier in group who was carrying some food in his bag, emptied it and suddenly realised that there was a map stuck to the bag. He took the map and gathered the other soldiers to lay out the route to the base camp. They all laid out the map and started moving in the direction. And finally they were at the base camp."



"The Young soldier felt proud that he had been the saviour of group and had led them to the base camp. Morning, when he woke up he noticed and was shocked !! The bag was made in Kashmir and  Map was of Kashmir."

The Managing Director gave a pause to gauge his audience engagement and continued after reassuring that everyone were keen to know next.

"What do we learn out of it ? It means at times of crises any resources is a good resource. And we need employees to step up like the Young Soldier and show qualities of leadership to lead the team."
He thought he had conveyed the message through this story.

But somewhere in crowd was a young, brave employee who had dared to question raised his hand. 
Everyone stared at him, but he didn't bother. When he met the eyes of MD and got his attention he stood up and took the mic "Sir,  I have a question. But tell me what if the map had led them to a different place and had further confused the group ? Then the Young soldier who had stepped up would have been blamed for his actions!" 

In an optimistic view the Managing Director was right, but in a realistic view anything was possible and so was the young boy right. Until we don't get judgemental and stop discouraging people and appreciate their efforts, we will continue to have lesser leaders coming forward to take risks. 

These are "My Thoughts" and would like to hear your views and thoughts on this. 


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