The Fairy in the Bucket: A Tale of Transformational Leadership

Hello, dear friend

In leadership and change, our most profound insights often come from unexpected sources. Fairytales and metaphors have been at the heart of human history, culture and sense-making. They engage our powerful unconscious, bypass our rational defenses, and allow us to see the world differently.

As you read this short tale, allow yourself to simply be. Don’t worry about “getting it”, just let the story work its way through you. At the end, you'll find reflection questions to help you bring to consciousness any insights and meaning. I suggest using the questions for journaling, or in a team discussion.

The audio version of this fairytale (narrated by me) is available above for paid subscribers. As always, the text version is free.

Photo by Dobrinoiu Denis on Unsplash

Once upon a time, there was an old woman with a big wart on her nose. Everyone in town thought that she was a witch, an evil one, the kind that eats little children for breakfast and feeds poisonous berries to adults.

One day, the old woman walked to the river with her bucket to fetch water for the house. There, at the bottom of the river bed, was a fairy. The fairy was startled: "Good Lord, is that what I look like?! Really?!"

The old woman chuckled and said, "Not yet, but soon enough."

The fairy gasped, shocked: "But I want to stay beautiful and frail forever!"

The old woman paused before answering, sensing in her own heart a wound so deep and cold that she had all but forgotten about it, until the fairy showed up.

"Well, my lady," the old woman said finally, "you will always keep the beauty that is real; everything else will fade with time. But fear not, for with time you shall also gain a pot of gold, and with that gold you will build a house where everyone will be welcome."

The fairy was pleased and disappeared.

The old woman finished the job she had come to the river for, rose to her feet, and made her way back through the village. Everyone looked at her and whispered as she walked by. What had happened to the old lady?! Her wart was gone. She was walking upright. And was that a lock of dark hair in the middle of her grey ocean of a mane?

"Ach! Leave me be!" dismissed the old lady. "Who cares what my hair or face look like?" And she continued on her way.

As she walked by the schoolyard, the kids (who were never afraid of her anyway) waved their hands, excited, and flocked to her. "Old lady, old lady, show us a trick!" She stopped, feeling the throbbing wound inside her heart. "Alright, close your eyes, you lot. Now with your mind’s eye look into the horizon, and you will see a white light. Let it come to you, pay attention, for it's a fairy inviting you to a party at her home. You don't want to miss it!" And off she went, on her way again.

Tired from carrying the heavy bucket of water, the old woman stopped by the side of the road and sat down to rest some. She glanced at the bucket but was afraid to look inside, lest the fairy come back with more pesky questions.

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Reflection Questions for Leaders or Teams:

1. In what ways do you feel misunderstood, like the old woman in the story?

2. The fairy feared losing her beauty. What aspects of yourself or your leadership are you afraid of losing as you grow and change?

3. The villagers saw the old woman differently after her conversation with the fairy. How have other people’s perceptions of you, your self-image, and your self-acceptance changed over time?

4. The old woman helped the children see magic. How do you help your team do the same? In what ways do your 'wounds' help you do that?

5. How can you create a culture where people feel welcome and valued, like the house the fairy was to build?

6. What's in your 'bucket' that you're afraid to see or hear? How might confronting it lead to personal or professional growth?

7. What else did the story evoke for you?

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   If you liked this story and the reflection guide, feel free to share it. And drop me a line to let me know what you or your team learned from it. Have a great weekend! Ana Lucia