B Y D A V I DK I G E R

Tree Aesop’s Fables useful for business.

Image courtesy of Tom Blunt at Flickr.com

Tree Aesop’s Fables useful for business.

The consultant David Noonan has taken the best fables from Aesop and then analyzed their lessons for business. He also states that it is so natural to go beyond the Aesop fables, adapting what they intend to teach from current and normal situations to business situations that despite being more complex and deeper study needed, are events fables’ lessons become a useful tool for solving them. Before bringing up the fables that can help you the most for leadership empowerment or for work things out when businesses are not doing well, first check who Aesop was and the importance of his fables.

Tree Aesop’s Fables useful for business.

Aesop was an ancient Greek fabulist or story teller who lived between c. 620 – 564 BCE. His fables (a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, mythical creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are anthropomorphized and that illustrates or leads to an interpretation of a moral lesson (a "moral"), are best known as Aesop’s Fables. Numerous of his tales have been gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a storytelling tradition that remains to this day. The principal aspect that characterizes his tales is the presence of animals and inanimate objects that speak, solve problems, and behaving as humans do. Some details of Aesop's life can be found in ancient sources, including Aristotle, Herodotus, and Plutarch. An ancient literary work called The Aesop Romance tells an episodic, probably highly fictional version of his life, including the traditional description of him as a strikingly ugly slave by his cleverness acquires freedom and becomes an adviser to kings and city-states.

Tree Aesop’s Fables useful for business.

Conflict management:

Jupiter, Neptune, Minerva, and Momus

According to an ancient legend, the first man was made by Jupiter, the first bull by Neptune, and the first house by Minerva. On the completion of their labors, a dispute arose as to which had made the most perfect work. They agreed to appoint Momus as judge, and to abide by his decision. Momus, however, being very envious of the handicraft of each, found fault with all.

Image courtesy of lolaleeloo2 at Flickr.com

Here below the list with some of the Aesop’s Fables chosen by David Noonan for business management. v

Tree Aesop’s Fables useful for business.

He first blamed the work of Neptune because he had not made the horns of the bull below his eyes, so he might better see where to strike. He then condemned the work of Jupiter, because he had not placed the heart of man on the outside, that everyone might read the thoughts of the evil disposed and take precautions against the intended mischief. And, lastly, he inveighed against Minerva because she had not contrived iron wheels in the foundation of her house, so its inhabitants might more easily remove if a neighbor proved unpleasant. Jupiter, indignant at

such inveterate faultfinding, drove him from his office of judge, and expelled him from the mansions of Olympus.

Reflection according to Noonan: If your boss were as Momus was, for sure you will feel everything you’ve done is not good enough. Hence, you will turn into an inferiority complex and that is exactly how some seniors expect their employees feel. So that, good chiefs tell off their employees privately but make compliments in public.

Tree Aesop’s Fables useful for business.

Keeping stress under control

The Horse and Groom

A groom used to spend whole days in currycombing and rubbing down his Horse, but at the same time stole his oats and sold them for his own profit. "Alas!" said the Horse, "if you really wish me to be in good condition, you should groom me less, and feed me more."

Reflection according to Noonan: Have you ever think about the time you spend working, including the time you use for getting to your job? Do you think working harder motivates your colleagues? Usually, some companies don’t give employees their oath because they prefer to save that money rather than give their employees what they deserve. This, ends up into a conflict between leaders and employees because the first expect more than the second can do. Hard working is good but this addiction, also called work-addiction, brings stress affecting people’s emotional live and health condition. Keep a balance and make your employees do it as well.

Tree Aesop’s Fables useful for business.

Leadership and motivation

The Goose with the Golden Eggs

One day a countryman going to the nest of his Goose found there an egg all yellow and glittering. When he took it up it was as heavy as lead and he was going to throw it away, because hethought a trick had been played upon him. But he took it home on second thoughts, and soon found to his delight that it was an egg of pure gold. Every morning the same thing occurred, and he soon became rich by selling his eggs. As he grew rich he grew greedy; and thinking to get at once all the gold the Goose could give, he killed it and opened it only to find nothing.

Reflection according to Noonan: Hire the right people, train them as better as you can and then, let them be free to make their job in the way the prefer to. As long as you trust them, they will do their best in order to maintain that confidence. And, doing this is easier when you train them well, because you know they will do what you expect from them.