Drop Your Clues Carefully! – Spiritual Story by Srikumar Rao

I was conducting a leadership workshop in Zurich for a top business school. There were about 60 persons in the audience, mostly senior executives.

I began by saying that I knew something about Zurich that I bet they did not know. And then I paused.

They were intrigued and sat up straight. Some had been born and raised in Zurich and were skeptical that an Indian born American professor knew anything about the city that they did not. I continued to remain silent, and a chorus of voices asked me “What?”

Did they know, I asked them, that Zurich had the world’s oldest continuously functioning, chess club? One person raised his hand.

We went on and the workshop was a big success.

The gentleman who raised his hand came up to meet me during the lunch break. Some years before that the Zurich Chess Club had organized the world’s first tournament for world chess champions and my son and I had flown to Zurich to attend this. Virtually every player of note was there – Vishy Anand, Kasparov, Karpov, Spassky, Topalev, Kramnik, and many more.

Andre Vogtlin, the knowledgeable seminar attendee, had also been there. We became friendly and kept in touch. A year later Andre flew from Basel to New York to take my course Creativity and Personal Mastery (CPM). We became even friendlier, and he is now an active and engaged member of the CPM alum community and has attended alumni retreats.

Andre is now the president of the Swiss Chess Federation and is doing pioneering work in propagating chess among young people. He gave me a gift I treasure highly – a chess board signed by Mikhail Tal, the diseased former world champion known for his sharply attacking style.

There is a reason I told you that story.

We are always dropping clues about ourselves. What we like, what our beliefs are, what we stand for, what we admire. Sometimes it is overt. More often we have no clue that we are dropping such clues. We drop clues with tone of voice, body language, facial expression, choice of language and much else.

The story I told my Zurich audience was an entertaining way to begin my workshop. It was also in invitation to anyone who had a serious interest in chess to identify themselves. There are many times when I have benefited by dropping such clues consciously and deliberately.

For example, I was speaking to a New Age audience and purposely mentioned a teacher who is not widely known but very well regarded by serious seekers. A handful of persons came up to me after my talk and one later became a coaching client.

As with you, so with others. They are also dropping clues and most do it inadvertently. It is your job to be sensitive to what they are really saying.

I was in a business meeting in India and my colleague was pitching a senior executive. The executive said he needed to check with his boss and would get back to us. He thought we had a good idea.

My colleague thought the meeting went well. I told him that the proposal was dead, and we did not need to follow up. He disagreed. He wanted to know why I was so ‘pessimistic’.

I pointed out that, while socializing before getting down to business, the executive narrated many tales about his progress, and they all highlighted his making quick decisions and cutting through ‘red tape’. But now he needed to check with his boss. It was a polite brushoff. Further he said it was a ‘good’ idea. In India, if someone you are negotiating with is not overwhelmingly, effusively enthusiastic, you have received a ‘No’. You just don’t know it.

And indeed the proposal went nowhere. My colleague followed up diligently until the executive stopped taking his calls.

Like Hansel and Gretel you, too, should leave a trail of breadcrumbs so persons can follow you and/or you can find your way back.

What would you like to highlight in the clues you drop and how do you propose to drop them?

Peace!

This article and spiritual story is from Professor Srikumar S. Rao. You can learn directly from him during his free masterclass “A System To Totally Eradicate Stress & Anxiety.”

Click here to register for Professor Rao’s free masterclass

The Spiritual Moral / Meaning of This Story

The story shared by the leadership professor during a workshop in Zurich offers valuable insights into human interaction, communication, and awareness. Through a series of personal anecdotes, the narrative delves into themes of intentionality, perception, and the subtle ways we convey and interpret information. These reflections are essential for understanding how we connect with others and navigate social dynamics.

The Power of Subtlety: The professor’s strategic mention of Zurich’s oldest chess club serves as a subtle yet powerful way to engage his audience. This demonstrates that subtle hints and indirect communication can be highly effective in conveying messages and establishing connections. The story emphasizes the importance of being aware of the subtleties in our interactions, recognizing that even minor details can have significant impacts.

Intentional Communication: By deliberately dropping clues about his interests and values, the professor created opportunities for meaningful connections. This highlights the value of intentional communication, where we purposefully share aspects of ourselves to attract like-minded individuals and foster deeper relationships. The story encourages us to think about how we present ourselves and what we reveal to others in our daily interactions.

Perception and Awareness: The ability to perceive and interpret the clues others drop is a key theme in the narrative. The professor’s awareness of the senior executive’s body language and choice of words during the business meeting allowed him to accurately assess the situation. This underscores the importance of being perceptive and sensitive to the non-verbal cues and underlying messages in our interactions. Developing this awareness can help us navigate social and professional situations more effectively.

Building Connections: The story of Andre Vogtlin illustrates how shared interests and mutual respect can lead to lasting friendships and professional collaborations. By revealing his interest in chess, the professor established a connection that transcended the initial encounter and blossomed into a meaningful relationship. This teaches us that by sharing our passions and being open to others, we can build strong and supportive networks.

Understanding Cultural Nuances: The professor’s insight into the cultural context of business communication in India is a valuable lesson in understanding and respecting cultural differences. Recognizing that expressions of politeness can vary across cultures, and interpreting them correctly, is crucial for effective communication. This story encourages us to be mindful of cultural nuances and to adapt our communication strategies accordingly.

Authenticity and Integrity: The professor’s approach to communication reflects a deep sense of authenticity and integrity. By being honest and true to himself, he fostered genuine connections and built trust with his audience and colleagues. The story highlights that authenticity in our interactions not only enhances our relationships but also aligns with our true selves, fostering a sense of fulfillment and integrity.

Intentional Clue-Dropping: The idea of intentionally dropping clues about ourselves serves as a metaphor for leading a purposeful and transparent life. It encourages us to consider what we want others to know about us and how we can communicate those aspects effectively. This practice can help us attract the right people and opportunities, creating a more aligned and meaningful life.

In essence, this story offers profound lessons on the subtle art of communication, the power of perception, and the importance of authenticity and intentionality in building connections. It invites us to be mindful of the clues we drop and the ones we pick up, fostering a deeper understanding of ourselves and others.

Personal Reflection Questions:

Spiritual stories are an opportunity to reflect on your own life. Here are 10 questions you can use to go deeper with the teachings in this story:

1. The Power of Subtlety: How can you use subtle hints and indirect communication to engage and connect with others more effectively?
2. Intentional Communication: What aspects of yourself do you want to share with others? How can you intentionally drop clues to highlight these aspects in your interactions?
3. Perception and Awareness: How attentive are you to the non-verbal cues and subtle messages in your interactions? What practices can help you enhance your perception and awareness?
4. Building Connections: Reflect on a time when sharing your interests led to a meaningful connection. How can you create more opportunities for such connections?
5. Understanding Cultural Nuances: How do you adapt your communication style to respect and understand cultural differences? What can you learn from the cultural nuances in your interactions?
6. Authenticity and Integrity: How do you maintain authenticity in your interactions? What benefits have you experienced from being true to yourself?
7. Intentional Clue-Dropping: What clues do you want to drop about yourself to attract the right people and opportunities? How can you do this in a way that feels natural and authentic?
8. Responding to Clues from Others: How do you interpret and respond to the clues others drop about themselves? What has this revealed about their values and interests?
9. Mindful Communication: How can you incorporate mindfulness into your communication practices? What impact might this have on your relationships and interactions?
10. Aligning Actions with Values: How do your actions and words align with your core values? What steps can you take to ensure that your communication reflects your true self?

A Poem Based On This Story

Clues We Drop: A Tale of Connection and Perception

In Zurich’s heart, a tale was spun,
Where chess and wisdom intertwined as one,
A story told, with subtle grace,
Invited minds to find their place.

The priest who led, with silent start,
Engaged the room, ignited hearts,
With words that dropped a clue so fine,
Connecting lives across time.

An interest shared, a bond was born,
As chess united hearts once torn,
From Zurich’s halls to New York’s lights,
Friendship grew in days and nights.

We all drop clues, with voice and glance,
In word and deed, in song and dance,
What we cherish, what we seek,
In gestures grand, in whispers meek.

Perceive the hints, the clues that fall,
In conversations, big and small,
For in these signs, connections bloom,
Transforming silence into tune.

In business halls, in life’s vast game,
Perception sharp can point the flame,
Of truth unspoken, yet so clear,
Guiding steps, both far and near.

So live with heart, and speak with soul,
Let authenticity be your goal,
For in the clues you drop each day,
Lies the path, the truth, the way.

Connect with others, see their light,
In subtle hints and silent might,
For life’s great game is best when played,
With open hearts, in trust conveyed.