I just watched an interview with Homero Reis, author of the book “Snow White and the Management Systems”. Among provocations and metaphors, something caught my attention: the true story of Snow White is not about the princess – it’s about the stepmother and the mirror.
Every day, the stepmother asks the mirror:
Mirror, mirror on the wall, is there anyone more beautiful than I?
As long as the answer is NO, everything flows in peace. But when the mirror dares to say YES, that Snow White now holds the throne of beauty… the stepmother transforms.
- She becomes a witch.
- She loses control.
- She hires a hunter.
- She spreads terror in the kingdom.
Now, switch the tale for real life. Switch the stepmother for the leader. Switch the mirror for the criticism. And answer honestly: Who do you become when you’re contradicted?
Most people are not prepared to face the truth when it hurts their ego. The immediate response is defensive: deny, disqualify, punish. Insecure leaders confuse feedback with attack. When they hear an opposing opinion, they activate the stepmother mode: they destroy the mirror – and anyone reflected in it.
- How many leaders have you seen use their authority to silence, punish, or isolate someone just because they were contradicted?
- How many times have you discarded a criticism just because it hurt?
- How many times have you used your “small powers” against someone?
The Mirror is not the enemy. It doesn’t create the truth. It just reflects. The maturity of a leader – or anyone with influence – is measured by the ability to face the Mirror without needing to break it.
Those who want to grow truly need honest mirrors around them:
- People who challenge your vision.
- Feedbacks that don’t come wrapped in empty praise.
- Truths that hurt, but set you free.
Do you only want to hear that you’re the most beautiful in the kingdom… or are you ready to be someone better? Everyone likes to look at themselves in the mirror. Few accept what they see when the reflection isn’t what they expected.
Be the type of leader who listens to the mirror – and grows with it. Not the type who turns into a witch.
The kingdom thanks you.
That’s it.
