Once upon a time, there was a Little Red Hen who
owned a wheat field. "Who will help me harvest
the wheat?" she asked.
"Not I," said the pig, "I don't know how."
"Not I," said the cow. "I'm too clumsy."
"Not I," said the dog. "I'm busy with some other things."
So the Little Red Hen did it herself.
"Who will help me grind the wheat into
flour?" she asked.
"Not I," said the pig. "That is another vocation in which I'm
untrained."
"Not I, " said the cow. "You could do it much more
efficiently."
"Not I," said the dog. "I'd love to, but I'm involved in some
matters of greater urgency. Some other time perhaps."
So the Little Red Hen did it herself.
"Who will help me make some bread?"
asked the Little Red Hen."
"Not I," said the pig. "Nobody ever taught me how."
"Not I," said the cow. "You're more experienced and could do it
in half the time."
"Not I," said the dog. "I've made some other plans for the
afternoon. But I'll help you next time."
So the Little Red Hen did it herself.
That evening, when guests arrived for her big dinner party, the Little Red Hen had nothing to serve them except bread. She had been so busy doing work that could have been done by others that she had forgotten to plan a main course, prepare a dessert, or even get out the silverware. The evening was a disaster, and she lived unhappily ever after.
MORAL: A good leader will find a way to involve others to the extent of their ability. To do the job yourself is the chicken way out.
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