What type of influencer are you? Are you applying force or warmth?

Once upon a time, the Wind and the Sun were having a friendly argument about who was stronger. They couldn’t agree, so they decided to put their strength to the test.

They saw a traveler walking along a road below. The Wind said to the Sun, “Let’s settle this by seeing who can make that traveler take off his coat. I’ll go first.”

So the Wind began to blow, harder and harder. It howled and roared, creating a fierce, icy gale. But the harder the Wind blew, the tighter the traveler held onto his coat. He shivered and wrapped himself even more securely.

The Wind, exhausted and frustrated, gave up, and it was the Sun’s turn. The Sun smiled warmly and gently sent down its rays. The day grew brighter and warmer. As the Sun’s warmth enveloped the traveler, he began to feel hot and uncomfortable in his coat. Eventually, he willingly removed it and continued his journey in comfort.

The Wind had to admit that the Sun was stronger in persuading the traveler to take off his coat.

Lessons

This folklore teaches us that persuasion and kindness can often achieve more than force and aggression. “Stooping” in this context means taking a gentler and more patient approach to achieve a desired outcome. It illustrates the principle that winning people over with warmth and kindness is often more effective than trying to force them into submission. This concept of “stooping to conquer” is a valuable lesson in both personal relationships and leadership.

“To stoop to conquer” is an idiomatic expression that means to adopt a humble or conciliatory approach in order to achieve a greater goal or overcome a challenge. It often involves temporarily lowering oneself or making a strategic concession to ultimately gain an advantage or achieve a positive outcome. This phrase is commonly used in situations where a person, organization, or leader decides to take a less confrontational or more cooperative stance to win over others or resolve a difficult situation.

The next time you are having challenges persuading someone to do something really important, review your approach. See if you need to stoop to conquer.