The Lion, the Mouse and the Power of Small Contributions

The Lion, the Mouse and the Power of Small Contributions

We often associate leadership with strength.

The lion is one of the most enduring symbols of courage, authority and leadership in the animal kingdom.

We use phrases such as “the king of the jungle” and instinctively associate the lion with someone who is powerful, confident and prepared to take charge.

But another familiar story reminds us that strength isn’t always what it appears to be.

In Aesop’s fable, a small mouse encounters a lion and eventually returns the favour by helping to free him from a trap.

The story has endured for centuries because of its simple message:

Even the smallest person can make a significant contribution.

It is a message worth remembering in our schools, workplaces, families and communities.

We sometimes make assumptions about people based on what we can immediately see.

The person who speaks the loudest is assumed to be confident.

The person who takes charge is assumed to be a natural leader.

The quiet person sitting at the back of the room may be overlooked.

Yet some of the most valuable contributions come from people who don’t seek the spotlight.

A team needs people who initiate.

It also needs people who observe.

It needs people who ask questions.

It needs people who encourage.

It needs people who organise.

It needs people who quietly make sure that things actually happen.

This is where understanding personality differences becomes particularly valuable.

At AusIDentities, we use four Australian animals to help people recognise different strengths and perspectives.

The Eagle may naturally look at the bigger picture and see possibilities others have overlooked.

The Kangaroo may be ready to turn an idea into action.

The Dolphin may notice the people involved and understand how they are feeling.

The Wombat may ensure that the foundations are solid and that important details aren’t forgotten.

Imagine trying to build something important with only one of these qualities.

It would be difficult.

Vision without action can remain just an idea.

Action without consideration can create problems.

Relationships without structure can become chaotic.

Structure without vision can become rigid.

The strength comes from the combination.

This is particularly important in leadership.

Perhaps we have been too quick to define leadership by the characteristics of the lion.

We celebrate the person who stands at the front.

But leadership can also look like the person who notices that someone is struggling.

It can look like the person who asks the question nobody else thought to ask.

It can look like the person who quietly keeps a team together when things become difficult.

Leadership isn’t always about being the strongest person in the room.

Sometimes it is about recognising the strengths of everyone else in the room.

The little mouse in the old story didn’t suddenly become a lion.

It didn’t need to.

It contributed something the lion could not.

And perhaps that is the lesson worth carrying with us.

We don’t all need to be the same.

We don’t all need to lead in the same way.

We simply need to recognise that everyone has something valuable to contribute.

When we understand that, we begin to look at people differently.

And perhaps that is where true teamwork begins.