What are you building?

A traveller enters a new city and happens upon a vast building site. He goes up to the nearest stone mason (this was before hoardings) and asks the mason what he’s doing.

Without looking up, the mason grumbles: “Building a wall, obviously.”

So the traveller goes to the next mason, and asks him. This one straightens up and beams.

“I’m building a cathedral!” he says.

It’s an old story, but a good one for showing that leadership entails creating a powerful sense of meaning, which builds purpose and pride, which in turn breeds trustworthiness.

People will pull out all the stops if they care.

Next: How to create meaning …