By Beryl Comar

Have you ever jumped to conclusions too quickly? I know in my coaching and training I am often too quick using my intuition and judgment. While both of these are powerful tools in my toolbox, they can lead down a different path and even create an incorrect paradigm or inflexible thinking. I/You can disrupt the coaching interaction and the facilitation using these two vital tools...intuition and judgment. Take a look at these two stories...intuition (Hodja) and judgment (Scientist). Intuition can almost be considered a part of the sixth sense or even spiritual in nature. Judgment can be based on hard numbers and facts. An expert opinion can come forth in the form of judgment.

Incidentally, these stories/metaphors make an excellent classroom share - play them up with sounds and animation. Frogs and asses make great characters in a classroom setting. An ass is fun because of Shrek. The frog character allows you to jump and bring animation and action to your storytelling...these are classic stories and extremely effective if used properly (wholeheartedly).

The Hodja and the Ass

A Nasruddin Hodja wanted to save money by feeding his ass a handful less barley each day. When the ass still seemed content, he subtracted another handful. Soon it was eating less than half of what it used to get. It was quiet, but it didn't complain. Eventually, the Hodja offered it only one handful of barley a day, and the ass refused to touch it. Before long, it was dead. "What bad luck!" said the Hodja. Just when I was succeeding in teaching my ass true mortification of the flesh, death had to intervene and spoil it."

- Taken from Charles Downing, _Tales of the Hodja_ Oxford UP, 1964.

The Scientist and the Frog

A scientist was teaching a frog to "Jump" on command. He first he cut off one leg and gave the command, "Jump," and the frog did. The same thing happened after cutting off leg number two and three, though the third jump was a bit lop-sided. When the scientist cut off the fourth leg, he said, "Jump!" but the frog just sat there. The scientist repeated the command with no response.

The Scientist's Conclusion: When a frog loses all four legs he becomes deaf.

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