An old folk tale reminds us that true power resides in simple human connection
What comes to mind when you hear the word extraordinary? Maybe it’s astronauts traveling the vast unknown, pushing the boundaries of human exploration. Perhaps it’s Olympians on the world stage, competing in moments that define history. Or maybe it’s a priceless work of art that captures emotions in ways that words can’t.
These rare feats, which seem distant from everyday life, are the kinds of things we generally associate with greatness. But what if there is always something extraordinary around us that we mislabel as ordinary? What if extraordinary isn’t so rare? What if it is part of our everyday lives? If it is, how can we shift our perspective to see it more clearly?
A simple tale holds a deep truth. In the Stone Soup story, a traveler came upon a village. Weary and hungry, he asked a villager for food. They replied, “We are poor. We have nothing.”
The traveler had an idea. He called the villagers together and told them to bring a big pot. Then he pulled out a stone from his pocket. “It’s a magic stone. It’ll make us good soup. But first, bring to the pot whatever you find in your cupboards.” One villager brought a few carrots; another, leftover spices. One by one, they put in what they had – and what resulted was the most delicious soup.
I think what made it delicious wasn’t just that it tasted good. It wasn’t just about the ingredients. It was that they made it together – each person had a hand in creating the soup – and they enjoyed it together. The power is in the connection.
This is true of life and leadership. None of us has all the ingredients or all the answers. But each of us has a unique set of experiences, leading to unique perspectives. Sharing our perspective with others allows for the co-creation of something innovative and exciting.
Hans Christian Andersen wrote movingly that, “The whole world is a series of miracles, but we’re so used to them that we call them ordinary things.” This mistake is perhaps most commonly made about people. Just think what it takes for any one person to come to being: the ancestors that went before us; the experiences that gave us wisdom and brought us to the present moment; the struggles encountered and the victories earned. The reality is that we are all extraordinary.
With each interaction and relationship built, we are making stone soup. Whether it is at work, in a restaurant, or even in our own homes, we are surrounded by, and participate in, something extraordinary every day: human connection. We must be intentional in our rediscovery of the extraordinary in each other, and remember always that although we may have amazing achievements, they are merely things we’ve done: they are not the entirety of who we are.
In an age of technological feats, we can better leverage AI by doubling down on what makes us human. It’s the capability to collaborate and cultivate friendships. It’s about fostering and using our virtue superpowers, such as wisdom, courage, vulnerability and authenticity. It’s about the capacity for hope. Leading in today’s environment requires us to see each other as extraordinary people. It is part of rethinking power, and becoming an influential leader capable of moving people to achieve great things. The starting point, before anything else, is to understand your teammates as individual, remarkable stories.
In our organizations and everyday lives, let’s see each other, learn from each other, and co-create together. The real magic is in us all.
Sanyin Siang is a Pratt School of Engineering professor and leads the Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics at Duke University
