Finding a perfect fit . . .

Here is a tale to inspire your next software selection committee or project team meeting:
SPOILER ALERT:  This allegory is based on the aptly named "Grimm's" Fairy Tale original.  if you are attached to the sweet Disney version of the story, read no further! 

Once up on a time . . . there was a princely leader - who had a vision of a kingdom ruled in true fairy tale fashion, by him (visionary - handsome, strong, wise and beloved) and his queenly partner to run the operation (resourceful, efficient and beautiful in every way).   With her by his side, the result would be prosperity, efficiency and career advancement for all the citizens of the realm.  (Note:  gender retained from original source - feel free to reverse!)

Queenly perfection was hard to come by in the kingdom at that time - there were plenty of proposals, but they all fell short in one way or another.  Then - one day, the Prince caught a glimpse of the Perfect One . . .the presentation was quick, and a little superficial -  but he was hooked - this was the answer, the one that would banish all confusion and guarantee happiness.   But, she was a nobody, not a front-runner -  and the palace guards did not bother to get her contact information - and she vanished.  EXCEPT - she left behind just a couple of slides from her deck - and apparently her shoe size as well.

So, what next?  The details on how to find and sign her up were elusive.  So, rather than get caught up  "in the weeds" , P.  came up with what he thought was a perfect metric as an incentive - measurable, clear, and unambiguous.  Your foot needed to fit this shoe - that's it.  The press release went out to the citizens right away.

Poor P.  - he wasn't all that respectful of the lengths the hopefuls would go to win the prize . . . and Cinderella's sisters, among many others, were convinced they had the goods, based on meeting the literal objective of shoe fit.  So, one by one, they simply hacked off the foot parts that didn't fit the shoe - one removed a toe, the other carved off a chunk of heel.  Voila! Perfect fit - and off to the prince to become queen.  Well, fortunately for the Prince, he had a couple of trusted insiders in the form of gossipy birds - and they clued him in to one observable fact that his attachment to outcome had blinded him to -  pssstttt, Prince - do you notice the blood dripping from the shoe?  Whoa!  Said the prince - my true queen does not have bloody stumps for feet - begone, impostors.  But,  what to do?  Where is the simple beautiful perfect one?

Surprise - a grimy little thing shows up at his door with a claim to the perfect fit.  "Wow -  this is just not right - and yet, somehow it DOES feel right", thought the prince.  Her foot is perfect fit - without surgery - and there was a ring of truth that sounded clearly when he heard her speak.  Well, maybe she would clean up pretty good - and indeed that was the case.   Almost magically, help began appearing from the most unlikely places - pumpkins became carriages, mice were horses, and she was transformed to reveal her genuine inner beauty on the outside.  

And the moral of the story is:

For Princely leaders:  stay clear on what your intended outcome is - and don't confuse that with whatever interim goals or incentives you have cooked up.  Nothing kills a team spirit than an misguided reward structure - placed right in the way of doing what makes sense.  No more bloody stumps at your progress meetings!  And, trust the people who tell you the truth, even if you don't like it.

For Stepsisters:  Go chase your own dreams and not your sister's - you wouldn't like being queen anyway, and your feet would hurt forever.

For Birds:  Keep telling the truth to power - they may not like it, but will appreciate it in the long run.  Just share your truth simply - without judgment or blame and trust that they will do the right thing.  It can happen.

For the Queen/Cinderella:  If the shoe fits, go for it . . . You may not fit the superficial measure of success, but you may be The One to help the whole kingdom wake up to what is really important.

(And lastly . . . When you are on the right path, miraculous beings can and often do come running to help.)