The Emperor’s New Clothes

Two swindlers arrive at the emperors’ court.  The emperor is renowned for spending lavishly on clothing. The swindlers pose as tailors and manage to get an audience with the emperor, where they offer to supply him with the most magnificent clothes made from a cloth so special that it cannot be seen by those who are stupid or incompetent. The emperor hires them, and they set up looms and go to work. 

The emperor visits the ‘tailors’ to check their progress. The loom appears empty, but not wanting to be seen as a fool the emperor pretends he sees fine cloth. As the emperor says he can see fine cloth, his courtiers also claim they can see it - so that the emperor does not think they are fools. Finally, the weavers report that the emperor's suit is finished. They ‘dress’ him and he sets off in a procession before the whole city. 

The cityfolk also uncomfortably go along with the pretense, not wanting to appear inept or stupid themselves.  Eventually a child asks why the emperor is naked at which point everyone realises they have been fooled.

What leadership lessons can we learn from this?  

Leaders need to be self-aware, build trusting relationships where it is safe to speak up with a different view-point, and be able to admit when they are wrong, learn from the experience and move on!