Have you ever seen the latest craze (often endorsed by a celebrity) that you thought looked terrible, only to watch it quickly catch on everywhere? Or heard a song constantly playing on the radio that you can’t stand, yet it keeps climbing the charts?
I know I have, and in other areas such as politics, religion, company culture, and much more. Often, we’re drawn into ideas we haven’t fully questionned or explored for ourselves. Yet when we do question them, we may remain silent out of fear of embarrassment, standing out, or not wanting to feel like the odd one out.
I’ve been in so many meetings throughout my working life, where people want to ask a question, but fearing they will seem uneducated or “stupid,” they choose to stay silent. When someone is brave enough to speak up, a collective sense of relief often fills the room. While facilitators often say, “There are no stupid questions,” attendees know that there can be judgment for asking what’s considered an “obvious” question.
Have you ever read The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen?
'The tale tells of an emperor who is obsessed with fancy clothes and spends lavishly on them, neglecting state matters in the process.
One day, two con men visit the emperor's capital. Posing as weavers, they offer to create magnificent clothes for him that are invisible to those who are incompetent or stupid.
The gullible emperor hires them, and they set up looms, pretending to weave. A succession of officials, starting with the emperor's wise and competent minister, and then culminating with the emperor himself, visit to check their progress. Each sees the empty looms but pretends otherwise, fearing they will appear foolish.
Finally, the weavers announce that the emperor’s suit is finished. They mime dressing him, and he sets off in a procession before the entire city. The townspeople reluctantly go along with the pretence, not wanting to appear inept or foolish, until a child blurts out that the emperor is wearing nothing at all. The people then realize they’ve all been fooled. Although startled, the emperor continues the procession, walking more proudly than ever. The fate of the con men remains unknown.' (Source: Wikipedia)
The story’s characters each play a key role:
The Emperor
A prideful ruler obsessed with fancy clothes, whose vanity and fear of appearing foolish lead him to buy the non-existent suit and parade around in nothing but his undergarments.
The Weavers
Two con men who trick the emperor into believing they can create a suit invisible to the incompetent or foolish, exploiting his pride and vanity.
The Entourage
The emperor's entourage, too proud to admit they see nothing, praise the non-existent suit to avoid being labelled as fools.
The Child
The child who breaks the illusion by shouting out that the emperor is, in fact, wearing nothing at all.
If you were a character in the story, who would you be, and who would you want to be?
Have you ever felt too afraid to speak out or challenge the norm in a situation you were in?
The Emperor’s New Clothes is a timeless tale that explores themes of self-deception, conformity, and obedience to authority.
Who do you want to be?
In the future, if you disagree with something that’s not considered popular, will you remain silent, or will you speak out? Do you have the bravery to step out of your comfort zone and live authentically?
If you would like to discuss this further, please contact JennyB, who would be happy to help in any way she can.
Thank you, as always for reading.
JennyB
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