The Emperor’s New Clothes

The war in Ukraine has left many wondering about perspective.  Or more particularly how to explain the perspective of one man in Moscow. 

I’ve long been fascinated by how those in power can ensure they are able to see the world straight.  A modern story of the story of the Emperor’s new clothes.

Everyone knows this one.  It's the tale where two charlatans persuade a gullible, vain Emperor to commission them to produce a wonderful bespoke, invisible suit. When the Emperor then emerges wearing his new suit he is of course naked and this is pointed out by a small child in the crowd. 

It seems to be a tale about vanity. A warning that great economic wealth can cause people to act against their own best interest. 

Except that it isn't that at all.  

Having young children means that one reads these tales aloud and then discovers the plot is different to what is commonly believed. 

As with many, if not all traditional tales, there is a psychological truth at the heart of this story. But it isn't about vanity at all.

What is mostly forgotten, is that in the story the charlatans agree to produce the suit for the Emperor only on the condition that he send one of his top advisers down to the workshop to inspect the suit as it is being made - on three different occasions.  

Each adviser reports back that the suit will be magnificent and that the Emperor will be the envy of the world. 

What seems to be a story about vanity is actually a story about leadership. 

How do those in senior positions ensure that the inputs that they receive are accurate? Who can they trust to provide them with accurate information – especially if it’s not what they want to hear? 

Without the correct inputs, the derived outputs will almost certainly be flawed, even deadly.