Like something out of a fairy tale
Originally uploaded by jcgr.

This great big, glorious (and probably historic) old tree on the UC Santa Cruz campus, seen through the fog and late night lights leaving a performance of Shakespeare Santa Cruz, reminded me of some of my favorite fairy tales when I was little. One book, in particular, was full of drawings of drama-laden trees like this.

In my first job out of college, I remember thinking at some point during the year that Alice in Wonderland should be used as a training film for people joining the mysteriously functioning non-profit organization in which I worked. The goals, the customers and their needs, understanding of what success really was for them, and for the organization? All of it seemed a mystery, and the focus of little attention to the leadership or the ranks.

After my husband and I saw a documentary the other night, I found myself thinking once again about fairy tales and adventure stories. I wondered – seriously – what tales and legends even unconsciously guided the architects of the dilemma on which the documentary focused.

What role, for example, did each of the key players believe that they were playing at start?

Does the story look quite different to them now?

And does their own role in the drama look quite different from what they first thought?

If you were characterizing the adventure story or movie that best describes a dilemma your organization faces, what would describe it best?

Does that give you any ideas, kidding or not, about successfully addressing a current, or future test in the adventure in which you’re engaged?